Sweetheart brooch : Captain A McKean, 18 Battalion, AIF

Nine carat gold brooch using a Rising Sun collar badge design. The badge features red and blue enamelling of the words 'AUSTRALIA COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES', and red to the crown. The reverse is fitted with a brooch pin and is impressed 'C.U. 9 CT'.

Associated with the service of Alexander McKean. McKean was born in Murrumburrah, NSW on 12 July 1882 and was a schoolteacher on enlistment in 18 Battalion on 18 May 1915. He embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Ceramic on 25 June and after training in Egypt, proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli on 16 August.

McKean was wounded on 22 August during the Allied attack on Hill 60 - the last operation of the August offensive. Suffering a gunshot wound to his right shoulder, he was initially transported via 16 Casualty Clearing Station to Mudros, before being invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Franconia on 26 August.

Arriving in London, McKean was admitted to 3 London General Hospital on 8 September. One month later it was recommended by the Medical Board to grant McKean sick leave from 12 October as he was deemed unfit for general service. Arrangements were made to invalid him back to Australia on 19 January 1916 aboard HMAT Star of Victoria.

Arriving in Australia McKean was discharged medically unfit from the AIF on 6 September. However he was re-engaged for transport duty the following day and embarked from Australia aboard HMAT Ceramic as the adjutant and quartermaster on 7 October.

Disembarking in Plymouth on 21 November McKean marched into No 4 Command Depot, Wareham on 2 January 1917 as Officer Commanding, Overseas Company. Remaining there for a month he marched out to Headquarters, London for return to Australia on 9 February.

Arriving in Australia on 8 April his appointment in the AIF was terminated 10 April 1917.