Pte 24780 George Keedwell

• Age: 23
• From: New Ferry, Cheshire
• Regiment: 2/6 KLR 18th Btn
• Died on Thursday 16th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Doullens Cc Ext No.2
  Panel Ref: I.B.4

George was born in New Ferry, Cheshire, on 28^th December 1894, and baptised on 10^th March 1895. He was the eldest son of Robert Howard Keedwell and his wife Mary Ann (nee Martin), of 15 Ruskin Avenue, Rock Ferry, Cheshire. His parents had married in Liverpool in 1887; his father was born in Monmouthshire, and his mother in Liverpool. George was the fourth of ten children; his siblings were Mary, Amy, Lucy, John Joseph, (Florence, who died in infancy), Robert , John Henry, Florence, and Charles.

In 1901 the family is living at 48 Stanlow Cottages, Ellesmere Port. His father is working in a blacksmith’s.

As a teenager, George got into a bit of trouble as is illustrated in an article in the Cheshire Observer on 17^th July 1909: 

 “A Window Cleaner’s Pastime.  In the Children’s Court, George Keedwell (14), of 3 Oldfield Road, was summoned for willfully breaking a window of the Catholic Church, Ellesmere Port.  The Rev. Edward Kirby stated that he had been compelled to take these proceedings as the windows of the church were frequently being broken, and he wanted a stop putting to the practice.  It cost 2s. 6d. to repair this window, but it had cost 15s. to repair others that had been broken recently.  A boy named Wm. Bailey said he saw defendant throw a stone at the church building and it broke the window, though he did not think he aimed at it or intended to break it.  P.C. Foy said defendant admitted breaking some of the windows, but did not know how many.  The police had received complaints from several people of broken windows owing to stone-throwing by boys.  The constable stated defendant was employed as a window cleaner and earned 5s. a week.  He was ordered to pay the damage and court costs (total  11s 6d.).”

In 1911 the family is living at 12 Exeter Road, Ellesmere Port. His father is a striking smith. George is 16, and working as a waiter in an eating house.

He enlisted on 28 January 1915 as Private 24780 in the 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment.

He was billeted at the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

George was mentioned in the Liverpool Echo on 25th May 1915:

Comrades at Sport

A huge crowd was present to witness sports and gymkhana provided by the King's Liverpool Regiment (Pals' Battalion) at Knowsley Park yesterday. Results:- 

Quarter mile (obstacle)

Private Akers 1. Cunliffe 2.  Keedwell 3.

George served with the Pals in France. He was wounded on the Somme in 1916, and rejoined his regiment in September of that year.

He was subsequently transferred to the 2/6^th Battalion K.L.R and was serving with them when he died at No.3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, in Doullens, on 16^th May 1918, from wounds received in action, near Arras, the previous day. He was 23 years of age.

George's death was first reported in the Liverpool Echo of 28th May 1918 

Mr.and Mrs.Keedwell,15, Ruskin-avenue,Rock Ferry,have heard their eldest son George died in hospital of wounds on May 16,after three years service. (Lpool Echo 28/5/18).

Further details of his death and the severe wounding of his brother was reported in the Birkenhead News on 01st June 1918

ROCK FERRY RIFLEMAN FALLS

Mr and Mrs Keedwell, 15 Ruskin Avenue, Rock Ferry have been notified that their son Rifleman George Keedwell of the King's Liverpool Regiment has died of wounds received the same day, May 16. He joined the army in January 1915 and had been on service just three years. During the Battle of the Somme, July 1916, he was wounded. He was 23 years of age. The officer commanding his Regiment has written to say he was always cheerful and the life of his platoon, and everybody was sorry to lose him. He was certainly a good fighter. A brother to this brave lad, Private J. Keedwell, has also "done his bit," having served with the Liverpool's. During the advance on the Somme, July 1st 1916, he was seriously wounded and his right foot and was amputated. He is now discharged. Every sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Keedwell in the loss they have sustained. Two sons-in-law are also in the army, one, Rifleman R. Edwards is now invalided home after 15 months in France, the other, Gunner J. Bunking, is with the R.G.A. in the present fighting.

He now rests at Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.2 where his headstone bears the epitaph: 

‘IN OUR LOVELY HOURS OF THINKING

THOUGHTS OF HIM ARE EVER DEAR”

Doullens was Marshal Foch's headquarters early in the First World War and the scene of the conference in March 1918, after which he assumed command of the Allied armies on the Western Front. From the summer of 1915 to March 1916, Doullens was a junction between the French Tenth Army on the Arras front and the Commonwealth Third Army on the Somme. The citadelle, overlooking the town from the south, was a French military hospital, and the railhead was used by both armies. In March 1916, Commonwealth forces succeeded the French on the Arras front and the 19th Casualty Clearing Station came to Doullens, followed by the 41st, the 35th and the 11th. By the end of 1916, these had given way to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital (which stayed until June 1918) and the 2/1st Northumbrian Casualty Clearing Station.

From February 1916 to April 1918, these medical units continued to bury in the French extension (No.1) of the communal cemetery. In March and April 1918 the German advance and the desperate fighting on this front threw a severe strain on the Canadian Stationary Hospital. The extension was filled, and a second extension begun on the opposite side of the communal cemetery.

In May 1940, Doullens was bombed with Arras and Abbeville before being occupied by the Germans.

The COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION No.2 contains 374 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, and 87 German war graves.

The extensions were designed by Charles Holden.

George was a keen footballer, and had won a medal, which was received a few days previous to his death.

His parents placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 23^rd May 1918:

“May 15 [sic], died of wounds, Rifleman George Keedwell, K.L.R., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Keedwell, 15 Ruskin Avenue, Rock Ferry. Sadly mourned by all.”

Liverpool Echo 28th December 1918

In loving birthday remembrance of our dear son and brother, Rifleman George Keedwell, who died of wounds, May 16, 1918. 

We longed for his safe returning,

   We longed to clasp his hand,

But God postponed this meeting

  To meet again in the Better Land.

No cross her beauteous splendour,

   No order superb as a star,

His cross is the cross of the Master,

   One upright of wood and a bar.

But no man can call him a failure,

   No Glory on earth can enhance

The cross made of wood just above him,

   The cross that he died for in France. 
Never forgotten by Mother and Father, Sisters and Brothers.

Effects – father Robert Howard, mother Mary Ann.

His mother died in 1931; his father lived through WW2 and died in 1948.

His brother Robert served with the 10^th Bn K.L.R. as Private 110732.

His brother John Joseph served with the 20^th Bn K.L.R. as Private 34349 from January 1915 until he was discharged with a disability at the end of 1917.

George is commemorated on St. Peter’s C of E Church Memorial, Rock Ferry.

We currently have no further information on George Keedwell. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.