Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has submitted the following:

Owen was born in the March Q 1897 in Sunderland, the second oldest child of James and Elizabeth Ann McKeown (nee White) of 16 Ogle Terrace, Southwick, Co. Durham. James and Elizabeth were married in the March Q 1895 in Sunderland (GRO records spell the name McCone).

The other children from the marriage were:
Ann McKeown was born September Q 1895
Margaret McKeown was born October 1899
Jane McKeown was born December Q 1901
Margaret McKeown was born March Q 1904
William McKeown was born March Q 1906
Elizabeth Ann McKeown was born 17th February 1908
Patrick McKeown was born 11th March 1909
John McKeown was born June 1910

All of the children’s surnames were spelt McKeon.

All the births were registered in Sunderland.

There is the possibility that another child born was after 1911. James McKeon born June Q 1914 in Sunderland.

On the 16th November 1899, aged only 1 month, Margaret died on the 19th November 1899 and was laid to rest in Southwick Cemetery.

In 1901 the family, consisting of James, Elizabeth Ann, Owen and his older sister Ann continued to live in three rooms at 16 Ogle Terrace. His father James was employed as a Labourer in a local Bottle Works.

The years 1908, 1909 and 1910 could only have been a nightmare for James and Elizabeth Ann, for in these three years they lost three children just after their births. Only five minutes after being born on the 17th February 1908 Elizabeth Ann died. In 1909 only one hour after his birth on the 11th March Patrick died. Then finally on the 29th June 1910, aged twenty two hours, John died. All three children were laid to rest in Southwick Cemetery, Elizabeth Ann on the 19th February 1908, Patrick on the 13th March 1909 and John on the 30th June 1910.

By 1911 James, Elizabeth Ann and their surviving 5 children were living in two rooms at 19 Ogle Terrace, Southwick. Owen, now aged 14 years, had followed his father into the Bottle Making industry where he was employed as an apprentice.

As if things could not get worse, tragedy hit the family again when, on the 10th February 1919 William, by then aged 13 years, died at the family home of 5 Collin Place, Southwick, he was also laid to rest in Southwick Cemetery.

On 18th December 1916 at Sunderland Recruiting Office Owen enlisted into the 31st Training Reserve Battalion. At the time of enlistment he gave his age as 18 years 11 months, the records tell us that he was 5 feet 4¼ inches tall and weighed 107 pounds. He then enlisted into the 2nd Garrison Battalion H.S. Yorkshire Regiment, his service number was 45895. On 30th January 1919 Owen was transferred from the Yorkshire Regiment to the Durham Light Infantry, his service number while with the D.L.I. was 76025.

It was while serving in the army that Owen developed health problems which affected how he performed his duties. Medical records show his poor health originated in 1916 and then, as time went on, his condition deteriorated. Suffering from bronchitis he was a patient in hospital on three separate occasions:
9th July 1917 to 17th July 1917 – 9 days
11th November 1917 to 22nd November 1917 – 6 days (There is a discrepancy between the dates and the days, information taken from medical records).
23rd June 1919 to 15th August 1919 – 54 days in Sunderland War Hospital. By this time Owen had been diagnosed as having Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
While still a patient in hospital, on the 12th August 1919 Owen attended a Medical Board. Because of his condition he had lost weight, when previously weighed he was 9st. 7lbs. but on the day of the medical he weighed 8st. 4½lbs. He was declared permanently unfit for service and on the 15th August he was discharged.

A little over 18 months later Owen succumbed to his illness. He passed away at the family home of 5 Collin Place, Southwick on the 5th June 1921 and was laid to rest on the 8th June 1921 in Section 2, Grave no. 383 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place. Inscribed at the base of the stone are the words: HE IS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN / NEVER WILL HIS MEMORY FADE / R. I. P.

Elizabeth Ann, aged 53 years, died on 21st March 1929 and was laid to rest on the 23rd May in Section S Grave no. 9653 of Southwick Cemetery.

James, aged 56 years, died on the 13th May 1932 and was laid to rest on the 16th May in Section 2 Grave no. 267 of Southwick Cemetery.

Both died at the family home 5 Collins Place, Southwick.

Owen McKeown is not remembered on any local war memorial.

The CWGC entry for Private McKeown