Patriotic kettle cosy with applique flags : Driver E C Bradshaw, 1 Field Squadron Engineers, Australian Mounted Division

Kettle cosy made from two dome sections of khaki cord wool breech fabric sewn together. The seam of the cosy has been cut to form protruding ornamental dovetails. Appliqued on one side is the Union Jack and the Australian Red Ensign, on white, crossed staffs. On the other is the French Tri-colour and the Belgium flag.

Associated with the First World War service of Edward Charles Bradshaw. Bradshaw was a twenty four year old fitter on his enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force on 31 March 1917. He joined the Engineers Training Unit and embarked for overseas service from Sydney aboard HMAT Port Sydney on 9 May with 1 and 2 Field Troops (Engineers).

Arriving at Suez on 20 June Bradshaw was housed in an Isolation Camp at Moascar with other newly arrived reinforcements until given the all clear to join the Engineers Training Unit on 25 July. Transferring to the Australian Field Squadron on 3 August, Bradshaw remained with this unit in the field until 26 December when he was admitted to hospital suffering connective tissue inflammation (thumb). After a period of successful convalescence in Abbassia, Bradshaw joined D Troop, 1 Field Squadron Engineers as a driver. Remaining with this unit until 18 October Bradshaw was admitted to hospital suffering pyrexia, which kept him in hospital until after the end of the war. He rejoined D Troop in the field on 18 December where he remained until March 1919 when he marched out to Moascar to await embarkation to the United Kingdom. Arriving in London in April Bradshaw was granted a month’s leave before embarking for return to Australia. Arriving in Melbourne on 27 July 1919, Bradshaw was formally discharged on cessation of service on 20 August 1919.