Canada, CEF. A Medal Pair, 153rd Infantry Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade

British War Medal (928449 PTE. W.J KINCH. C.M.G. BDE.); and Victory Medal (928449 PTE. W.J. KINCH. C.M.G. BDE.). Naming is officially impressed, the "J" without a period behind it on the BWM. Un-mounted, dark patina on the BWM, very light contact, replacement ribbons, near extremely fine.

Footnote: William James Kinch was born on April 30, 1897 in London, England, the son of George Kinch and Annie Kinch. The family immigrated to Canada, settling in Owen Sound, Ontario. He was a resident of Palmerston, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (928449) with the 153rd Infantry Battalion, on January 17, 1916 in Palmerston, at the age of 18, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Annie Kinch of Owen Sound, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married, that his religion was Methodist and that his trade was that of Woodworker. Just before signing on with the 153rd Infantry Battalion, he was briefly hospitalization in London, Ontario, with a case of "Scabies" (not an infection, but an infestation of tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei, which set up shop in the outer layers of human skin. As the mites burrow and lay eggs inside the skin, the infestation leads to relentless itching and an angry rash), from January 8 to 16, 1917. The Battalion was raised in Wellington County with mobilization headquarters at Guelph, under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion sailed April 29, 1917 from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Olympic, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R.T. Pritchard with a strength of 17 officers and 511 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on May 7th. In England, the Battalion was broken up and absorbed into the 4th and 25th Reserve Battalions, with Private Kinch entering the Segregation Camp at Bramshott and joining the 25th Reserve Battalion on May 7th.

Six and a half months later, after having received additional training and orientation in England, Private Kinch was transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Pool for service in the French theatre, on November 23, 1917, arriving at the Pool in Camiers, France on the 24th. Five weeks after arriving in France, he was posted to the 16th Canadian Machine Gun Corps on December 30, 1917, followed three months later by his absorption into the 4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps on March 19, 1918. Eight and a half weeks after the cessation of hostilities, Private Kinch sought treatment at No. 12 Canadian Field Ambulance on December 31, 1918 and was transferred to No. 61 Casualty Clearing Station the same day. He was transferred to No. 55 Casualty Clearing Station on January 1, 1919, where he was diagnosed with "V.D.G. Mild" (venereal disease, gonorrhea). Nine days later, he was transferred and admitted to No. 7 General Hospital at Wimereux on January 10, 1919, where he would be treated for the next four weeks, before being transferred to No. 14 General Hospital at Boulogne on February 7, 1919. He was subsequently invalided "sick" to England and posted to the Canadian Machine Gun Company Depot at Seaford, which was followed by his admission to Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Cooden Camp at Bexhill on February 16th. He would recuperate at Bexhill for the next twenty-five days, before being discharged to duty on March 11, 1919. He was posted to Military District No. 1 Wing, at Kinmel Park, Rhyl, North Wales for return to Canada, on April 25, 1919. He embarked Glasgow, Scotland aboard the S.S. Saturnia, on May 11, 1919 and was taken on strength at Military District No. 1 in London, Ontario upon return to Canada. Private William James Kinch, 153rd Infantry Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade was discharged upon demobilization at Military District No. 1 in London, Ontario, on May 23, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 262113. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.