Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Keaveny was one of 8 children, 2 sons and 6 daughters. His father John Keaveny was an Irish immigrant born 1849 in County Roscommon who married in the district of Chester-le-Street, County Durham in 1880 to Ann Armstrong, known affectionately as Annie, born about 1862, native of Durham. Their son Thomas and daughter Lizzie were born at Durham in 1882 and 1884 respectively before they moved to Seaton Burn, Northumberland and over the next 10 years had a further 3 children, Annie 1887, Nellie 1889 and John Jnr 1890.
In 1891 John Snr was employed as an agricultural labourer, the older children were scholars. Their daughter Bella was born in 1892 before they returned to County Durham where Annie gave birth to daughter May in 1895, unfortunately son Thomas died in 1896 aged 14 years, it was 2 years later in 1898 their youngest child Maggie was born.
Still employed as a farm labourer John Snr and his family were living at 57, Millfield Cottages, Esh Village, although not listed as such in the 1901 census all the children were of school age with the exception of Maggie (3). By 1911 John Keaveny Snr and John Jnr (20) were working at the colliery as coal hewers, of their daughters only Bella (19), May (17) and Maggie (13) were still living at home.
John Keaveny Jnr in 1914 was living at Old Esh Village and enlisted at Durham, exact date unknown, assigned as Private 12514 to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards which as of 1915 was transferred to the 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division. He departed to the front as of 1916. His Battalion participated at the Battles of the Somme in 1916 at Flers Courcelette, September 15th-22nd and the Battle of Morval, September 26th-28th before leaving France and moving to Belgium in action during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line at the Third Battle of Ypres, July 1st-November 10th 1917 where they fought at the Battle of Pilkem July 31st-August 2nd, Menin Road, August 20th-September 25th, Poelcapelle, October 9th and the Battle of Passchendaele October 12th. They had returned to France by the end of 1917 and participated during the Battle of Cambrai, November 20th-December 3rd. Due to heavy losses the Division was restructured in February 1918, the infantry brigades were reduced from four battalions to three. The Germans attacked once again on the Somme front as of March 1918, the Irish Guards were involved in fighting during the Battle of St. Quentin, March 21st-23rd, Battle of Bapaume, March 24th-25th and The First Battle of Arras, March 28th. The village of Ayette which had been in British hands as of March 1916 was the scene of fierce fighting by the Guards Division on March 28th 1918 and they remained in the Arras sector until October 1918.
Having risen through the ranks the now Lance Corporal 12514 John Keaveny Irish Guards was killed in action, May 8th 1918 and interred at Ayette British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave B.5. made by the fighting units in March-June 1918. Lance Corporal Keaveny was 28 years of age and single.
His mother Annie Keaveny as his sole legitimate beneficiary received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John Keaveny Snr died aged 77 years in 1924 registered district of Lanchester, County Durham, Ann Keaveny nee Armstrong may have died in 1939, declared age as 75 years, Durham N.E.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Keaveny is remembered at Esh as John Keavney on E75.01
