Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James McKeown was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham and married Ann (Annie) Robson born April 2nd 1896 in the district of Gateshead in 1916 prior to his departure for the Western Front.
Private McKeown’s previous service number was 9556, when the Territorial Force was re-numbered in 1917 he was allocated number 200999 indicating that he had been serving with the 5th Battalion prior to June 29th 1908 and probably had served with the Volunteer Force.
The main body of the 1/5th Battalion D.L.I. had departed to France, April 18th 1915 and joined the 150th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. They saw action during the Second Battle of Ypres at St. Julien suffering heavy losses again on Frezenberg Ridge. Private McKeown joined them in the trenches on the salient near Ypres, Belgium, moving to Armentieres and Kemmel they stayed in the sector until August 1916 when they moved south to the Somme participating during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, Morval 25th-28th, Transloy October 1st-18th 1916. In 1917 they fought during the Arras Offensive in April before moving back to the Somme.
Private 200999 James McKeown Durham Light Infantry was killed in action September 5th 1917 and interred at St. Martin British Cemetery, St. Martin-sur-Cojeul, Pas de Calais, France, grave I. A. 36.
His widow Ann received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. She and James did not have any children.
Ann McKeown remarried in 1920 at Gateshead Charles Henry Garvey and with whom she had 3 known children, Eva born 1921, Matthew in 1922 and Margaret in 1924. Charles Henry Garvey died in County Durham aged 72 years in 1969, Ann Garvey-McKeown nee Robson died at Gateshead in 1971, aged 72 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James McKeown is remembered at Heworth as McKewoen J. on H92.03 and as Mckeown at Felling on F32.06
