Arthur Keepin
Thiepval Memorial
Hamsteels St. John
In Hamsteel St. John's churchyard is a family headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Frederick Esau
The dearly beloved husband of
Mary Ann Keepin
of Cornsay Colliery
Who died Dec. 4th 1918
Aged 72 years
Also Arthur Corporal
3rd Batt. Tyneside Scottish
Beloved husband of
Annie Keepin
And son of the above
Who was killed in action
In France July 1st 1916
Aged 27 years
Also Mary Ann
Beloved wife of the above
Who died Dec. 6th 1929
Aged 76 years
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Arthur Keepin was the 6th born of 7 brothers and had 3 elder and 2 younger sisters, of whom only 4 survived, Elizabeth born 1883 died in 1884. His father Frederick Esau Keepin was born October 11th 1846 at 13, Lime Kiln Lane, Bristol, Gloucestershire, where he was baptised November 8th. At the age of 21 years he had left his family home and was living at North Street, Timsbury, Somerset, a lodger in the home of James and Elizabeth James and family, employed as a coal miner. He went on to marry their eldest daughter Mary Ann James, born June 16th 1853, at the Registry Office, Bath, August 5th 1871, their daughter Mary Ann was born June 14th 1871 at Timsbury also their son Albert William, October 13th 1872. Over the next 2 years they had migrated to the north east and settled at Willington, County Durham, James Henry was born there December 19th 1874, Charles October 22nd 1876 at Spennymoor, Oliver November 23rd 1878 at Howden-le-Wear, Frederick April 9th 1881, Elizabeth Hannah October 15th 1885, Arthur December 20th 1887 at Crook, Ethel May 18th 1892, Ada February 4th 1894 and Ernest Alfred November 26th 1897 at Waterhouses. In 1891 they were living at 2, Leamington Terrace, Brandon where Frederick, son Albert (27) and Charles (23) were employed as hewers, Frederick Jnr (19) as a putter and Arthur (14) below ground as a driver. They had moved to 35, Office Street, Cornsay Colliery by 1911 where they worked at the local colliery and had also taken into their home, nephews Frederick Keepin (8), Michael Collins (18) a coal miner and his sister Mary Ann (16).
Arthur Keepin was married August 2nd 1911 at St. John the Baptist, Hamsteels, to Annie Ashworth born 1892 and with whom he had a daughter Doris born October 2nd 1913 at Cornsay Colliery.
Arthur Keepin enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, November 5th 1914 and was assigned as Private 168 to the newly formed 22nd (3rd Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The battalion trained at Newcastle before moving to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick castle, January 29th 1915. The battalion transferred to Ripon, Yorkshire, in June 1915 joining the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division. The regiment moved for final training in late August to Salisbury Plain, and departed to France in January 1916, concentrating at La Crosse near St. Omer. After a period of trench familiarisation they were moved to the Somme where preparations were underway for the forthcoming battles.
The opening Battle of the Somme had been planned for June 29th 1916, however, it was delayed by bad weather until July 1st. At 7.28 a.m. on the morning in question two huge mines were detonated under the German positions, one to the north, the other to the south of the village of La Boissellle, not far from Albert. At 7.30 when the whistles blew the men went over the top, the battle raged until July 13th 1916. The 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion N. F. attacked La Boisselle to the south, the 21st and 22nd (2nd & 3rd Tyneside Scottish) Battalions N. F. followed each other across 200 yards of, “No Man’s Land”. 20 Officers and 628 men of the 22nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers were lost.
Having risen through the ranks, the now Sergeant 22/168 Northumberland Fusiliers was reported as missing, his next of kin were informed. After extensive investigations as to his whereabouts he was struck off, presumed to have died in battle on or since July 1st 1916.
Sergeant Arthur Keepin is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, one of the 72,336 names of servicemen from Britain and South Africa inscribed there, all of whom have no known grave and were killed on the Somme before March 20th 1918. He was 29 years of age.
His brother-in-law Sergeant Thomas Rippon also serving with the 22nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers died July 1st 1916, aged 30 years. Arthur’s brother Albert William also signed up to serve during WW1.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their child and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Arthur’s father Frederick Esau Keepin died December 4th 1918 at 35, Office Street, Cornsay Colliery, County Durham and is at rest at St. John the Baptist churchyard, Hamsteels, County Durham, his mother and his wife died within 3 days of each other. Mary Ann Keepin nee James died December 6th aged 76 years, Annie Keepin nee Ashworth aged 37 years, December 9th 1929.
Doris Keepin was married in the district of Durham in 1931 to Arthur Truby, born December 8th 1909. In 1939 they were living at 1, Norton Avenue, Bowburn where Arthur was an overman at the colliery. Doris Truby nee Keepin died in 1984 aged 70 years, her husband aged 84 years in 1994, both registered at Durham Central.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Arthur Keepin is remembered at Cornsay on C116.01 and at Quebec on Q2.06
