The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Lance Corporal W S Keen


Home     


Photograph by "Chris Doran"


Lance Corporal William Samuel KEEN, L/10257, "A" Company, Depot, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died, 8th July 1916.

Born at St Alpheges, Greenwich, London, son of Robert and Annie Keen, 2 St Alpheges Cottages, Greenwich.

Brothers -  Robert Keen, 65 Banning? Street, East Greenwich; Daniel Keen, 41a Creek Road, Deptford; Harry Keen, 2 St Alpheges Cottages, Greenwich; Sisters - Annie Keen, Manitoba, Canada; May Keen, 20 Gloucester Place, Greenwich; Lizzie Keen, 21 Colraine? Road, West ????.

Previously served 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 13th November 1913, 3rd Class Certificate of Education.

Enlisted Maidstone, Kent, age 18 years & 126 days, height 5ft 2⅞ inches, weight 106lbs, fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair, slight knock knee, scar front both legs, scar back left elbow, scar inner side right thigh. . Resided 2 St Alpheges Cottages, Greenwich. Formerly shop assistant.

Home 8th January 1914 to 16th February 1915; BEF 17th February 1915 to 7th June 1915; Home 8th June 1915 to 16th February 1916.

8th January 1914, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 4th February 1914, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 19th August 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th September 1914 to 25th September 1914, awaiting Trial; 25th September 1914, sentenced to 84 days, Field Punishment No.2.; 14th January 1915, awarded 28 days Field Punishment No.2. by Commanding Officer for absence; 17th February 1915, posted BEF & 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 19th June 1915, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 12th July 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment;


16th February 1916, discharged as "no longer physically fit for War Service", para 392 XVI Kings Regs; Military Character, fair; At time of discharge, age 20 years, height 5ft 2⅞ inches, fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair, slight knock knee, scar front both legs, scar back left elbow, scar inner side right thigh. Intended place of residence St Andrews Home, Greenham, Newbury.

Disability - post typhoid stenosis of larynx - Enteric Fever in France in April 1915. High Tracheotomy at Boulogne May 18th 1915. He wears a No.24. rubber Tracheotomy tube constantly, trachea lumen is considerable narrowed probably owing to lack of after treatment. Medical Board, 20th December 1915, result of Active Service - typhoid infection - permanent. Prevents ¼.

2nd March 1916, pension of 12/6 a week for 6 months conditional from 16th February 1916, expires 16th August 1916.

Died after discharge.


Commemorated at Greenwich Cemetery, Screen Wall. 1 "C." B. 1211, United Kingdom.

NOTE: not included in Regimental History or Soldiers Died in the Great War; shown on CWGC web site.


This page was last updated on 29-Jun-2020.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason