Machine Gun Corps officer's tunic, WW1
After the First World War, the Lothians and Border Horse were able to claim that more of their rankers were promoted to be officers than from any other comparable unit in the British Army. This tunic belonged to a Lothians trooper from Haddington who became a captain in the Machine Gun Corps.
This is an olive green or khaki officer’s tunic or coat, with captain’s insignia on the epaulettes. It fastens in front with four large brass buttons marked MACHINE GUN CORPS. There are four large pockets, and brass crossed machine-gun insignia on the lapels.
The Machine Gun Corps was a new arm of the British Army created during the First World War. Officers and other ranks were drawn from line regiments and other arms of the Army. They served as Divisional Troops (attached to larger formations) and manned machine-gun positions in support of the front lines.
Museum id no. 1997.416
4 comments
Pete Gray wrote...
The medals are (from left to right):
Military Cross (a gallantry medal - we don't have the citation, though, yet)
British War Medal (a campaign medal issued to all British Services personnel who served overseas)
Victory Medal (a campaign medal issued across all the Allied armies)
The jacket belonged to Fred Mills, formerly of the Lothian & Border Horse.
dunbarborn wrote...
We would have added more info if there had been room in the original format! The text was written for a limited space - there are more options here to add info, so keep the comments coming. Go to SCRAN (www.scran.ac.uk) to see a lot more of East Lothian's (and Scotland's) history.
Woodbank House Balloch wrote...
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Military Cross (MC) Holders, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
It would be useful for you to add information on the medal ribbons worn.