2nd Lieutenant Mason Samuel Kent. Late South Irish Horse - Royal Irish Regiment - The Labour Corps
Date	Summary of Events and Information	Reference
19th Jan 1887	Mason Samuel Kent was born at 2 Orwell Road, Rathgar, (in the Parish of St George), Dublin. The nurse present at the birth was Maryann Lilly. Mason was educated at the Wicklow Academy and prior to joining the army his occupation was a Civil Servant. Working in the Registry of Deeds Dublin. Father Samuel Mason Kent. Occupation a Flour Miller. Mother Beatrice M Kent nee Courtenay.	Birth Certificate. Form M.T. 393
3rd Sept 1914 To 10th Sept 1915	After undergoing Primary Military Examinations and his Medical Examination 1081 Private M.S. Kent is attested into the South Irish Horse. He is a big man standing 5 Feet 11 Inches tall and weighs 154 Lbs. with Blue Eyes and Fair Hair. Aged 27 Years. He declares his religious calling as Church of England. Next of Kin was his mother Beatrice Kent who is at this time residing at 64 Hollybank Road, Drumcondra, Dublin.	Attestation Sheet. Description Sheet. Military History Sheet.
11th Sept 1915 To 16th Dec 1915.	Having completed his basic training, 1081 Pte. M. S. Kent is deployed with the British Expeditionary Force France. He is with A. Squadron South Irish Horse itself a unit of the 21st Division. This is a new army (K3) Division it crossed over to France between 2nd and 13th Sept 1915. During his time with this Division it is heavily involved in the Battle of Loos 25th Sept to 19th Oct 1915. A. Squadron, South Irish Horse embarked on the SS Anglo Canadian at Southampton on 11th Sept. with 6 Officers, 135 Other Ranks and 145 Horse’s. Landing at Havre on 12th Sept. at 10 a.m.The Squadron then entrained for St Omer and on arrival marched from St Omer to Watten where it is initially billeted. The Squadron settles down to a routine of training, reconnaissance, escort and traffic police duties but not without danger on 26th Sept 1915 two shrapnel shells burst about 50 yards from the Squadrons position. As a result of this incident the Squadron moved about half a mile further away from the gun positions (artillery). On the night of 22/23 Dec just seven day’s after his evacuation, A. Squadron suffer the first fatal casualties reported in the War Diaries when 1068 Pte. Larkin F., 1073 Pte. Le Bas H. and 1144 Pte Sadleir W.A. are reported killed in action by a direct hit on the Trench Catapult they were operating. 23rd Nov 1915 Mason is admitted to 23 General Hospital at Etaples, France suffering from Myalgia (muscle pain). Patient H 3482.16th Dec 1915 Mason is evacuated home onboard the Dublin Castle. Patient H 4243.	Military History Sheet. Unit War Diary WO95/2141.
17th Dec 1915 To 2nd Feb 1917.	At some time during this home posting Mason found the time to get married. He married Mrs S. Kent and set up home at 29 Merrion Avenue, Blackrock Dublin. Pte. M.S. Kent starts to move through the ranks and on 3rd Jun 1916 he is promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. On 8th Aug 1916 he is promoted to the rank of Corporal and on 10th Oct 1916 he is appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant. A/Sgt M.S. Kent transfers to the 1st Garrison Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment who are at this time deployed at El Kantara in Egypt and the newly promoted 4569 Lance Sergeant Mason joins them there and is posted to D. Company.	Military History Sheet.
3rd Feb 1917 To 14th Sept 1918.	On 20th Mar 1918 Mason applies for a commission in the Egyptian Labour Corps. This is his second application. He had applied in August 1915 for a commission in the Army Service Corps Horse Transport but had been turned down due to no vacancies. This time however after interviews and a medical examination at Minet El Bassel Station plus references from.Mr Marcus Leonard, Assistant Registrar, Registry of Deeds, Dublin and the Reverend Samuel Mathews, The Manse, Wicklow, Head Master, Wicklow Academy. He was granted a Temporary Commission and on 14th Sept 1918 Lance Sergeant M. S. Kent was discharged from the Royal Irish Regiment to become 2nd Lieutenant M.S. Kent, Egyptian Labour Corps. Mason’s health was again to play a part in his career, this time he was struck down with Malaria.	Military History Sheet. Form M.T. 393.
3rd Jun 1919 To 3rd Jul 1919.	3rd Jun. Mason is admitted to 36th Stationary Hospital suffering from Malaria. 24th Jun. admitted to 26th stationary Hospital Ismailia suffering from Malaria. 24th Jun. transferred to the Military Hospital at Ras El Tin. 4th Jul. Transferred to the UK. He was taken onboard the hospital ship Gloucester Castle in Alexandria Harbour bound initially for Marseilles. On the Casualty Report his Next of Kin Mrs M Kent is now living at 12 Westfield Terrace, Blackrock, Dublin.	Casualty Report Active Service.
4th Jul 1919.	The Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle lands at Southampton from Alexandria via Marseilles and Mason is taken to the 3rd (London) General Hospital from where he is granted sick leave from 23rd Jul to 23rd Sept 1919.	Arrival Report.
5th Nov 1919.	After treatment in various Military Hospitals and a number of spells on sick leave Mason was declared by the Army Medical Board to be permanently unfit for Military Service. Discharged he returns to his wife now living at 12 Upper Mount Street, Dublin. Medals And Awards 1915 Star British War Medal Victory Medal Silver War Badge	War Office Letter K.E./788. (K.S.4.K.(5). Medal Index Card.