Photo: Brian Chandler
Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Born on 19th January 1888 in Hedworth, South Shields, Frederick was the first child to be born to John George Keers, a foreman engine fitter at a local colliery, and his wife Isabella Simpson, whom he had married in Monkwearmouth the previous year. By 1901 the family were living in Model Street, Seaham and Fred had been joined by siblings Peter, John, Alf, Emily, Elizabeth, Robert and later still by young Ivy.
The 1911 census shows that the family had moved north to Ashington, but without Fred, who on 17th March of that year had arrived in Canada. Based in Alberta Fred found work as a motor attendant and after mobilizing with the 103rd Calgary Rifles militia he enlisted at Valcartier Camp, Quebec on 1st October 1914 and was attached to the 10th Battalion as Private 19878.
The Battalion sailed almost immediately for Plymouth on board the SS Scandinavian and on arrival were billeted in Pond Farm Camp on Salisbury Plain, where two weeks later the Canadian Contingent was inspected by King George V and Lord Kitchener. February 1915 saw the Battalion proceed to France from Avonmouth aboard the SS Kingstonian, the journey was expected to be a short one, but head winds and heavy seas meant it was three days before they disembarked.
The men travelled by train to Hazebrouch in Belgium arriving at 7am on 17th February, and after a quick breakfast marched on to Ploegsteert, arriving at billets in Romarin where they would undergo instruction in trench warfare. In March they moved to Estaires for further training and on the morning of 14th April boarded a fleet of red London Buses to travel to Vlamertinghe, west of Ypres. Relieving French troops in the trenches the Canadians were assured that they had arrived at a very quiet sector.
On 24th April 1915, two days after the first German gas attack of the war, the 10th Battalion was ordered to attack Kitcheners’ Wood. The attack was successful but at a huge price as they suffered 75% casualties. One of those wounded was Private Frederick Keers. He was evacuated to South Midland Divisional Casualty Clearing Station where he later died from his wounds. His personal effects were listed as a watch and case, two photos and a letter plus 18 cents in cash.
Morpeth Herald 07/05/1915 carries a brief obituary:
Private Fred Kears [sic], whose parents reside in 9th Row, Ashington, killed in action whilst serving with the Canadians. Kears [sic] emigrated to Canada two years ago, and enlisted with the first batch of Canadians. His brother is lying wounded.
In Ashington (Holy Sepulchre) Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:
A.B. John Keers R.N. . . . . . . . .
........rsho.....Novr. 2nd 1918 aged 2.. years
also of Pte. Fred. Keers, 10th Batt. . . . .
who fell in action in France April 24th 1915 aged 27 years
beloved sons of John G. & Isabella Keers of Ashington.
Frederick Keers is remembered in Ashington on A17.08 and A17.43 and as Kears on A17.01 (A17.27)
In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance, and on the Calgary Soldiers’ Memorial, Calgary, Alberta.
Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
The CWGC entry for Private Keers