Photo: Brian Chandler

Acknowledgements: Ron Carson

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Hugh Keenan, was the eldest of 5 sons and had a half-sister from his father’s second marriage. His father John Keenan, born in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland, (as per census entries), in 1864, married in 1886 at Durham, Elizabeth Keenan, native of Birtley, County Durham, born 1864. Hugh was born at Westwood, near Hamsterley, County Durham in 1889, his parents had settled by 1891 at 68, Derwentside, village of Medomsley. John Keenan was employed as a coal miner, to increment the family income they had taken in 2 boarders, coal miners Patrick Duffy and John Hodgson. Over the next 10 years Elizabeth gave birth to a further 4 children, all sons. John and James Patrick at Waterhouses in 1892 and 1895 respectively, Isaac 1896 at Kimblesworth and Andrew, September 16th 1898 at Pelton. In 1901 they were living at A Street East, Perkinsville, parish of Pelton, County Durham. John was still the only bread-winner, their boarders were now coal miners Thomas McHeaver and Patrick Mooring.

Elizabeth Keenan nee Keenan died in the district of Chester-le-Street, County Durham in May 1905 and interred at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Churchyard, Birtley Lane, Birtley, May 28th 1905.

John Keenan left County Durham with his children and moved to Westerhope, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, he married Esther Mitchinson, native of Hetton, County Durham, born 1882, at Castle Ward, Northumberland, in 1909. Their daughter Margaret, affectionately known as Maggie, was born March 10th 1910 at Westerhope. In 1911 they occupied 3 rooms at 54, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, with the exception of Andrew (11) who attended school, John Keenan and his sons were employed at the colliery, he as a hewer, Hugh (22) a putter, John (18), James Patrick (16) and Isaac (15) as drivers below ground.

Upon the outbreak of war Hugh was initially unable to enlist as he was below the Army’s required minimum height of 5 feet 3 inches. When the initial rush of volunteers dwindled, and the War Office realised they needed more men, January 13th 1915, they gave permission that this be reduced by 3 inches to 5 feet and the Durham Bantam battalion was formed. Hugh was amongst the first to enlisted in the newly formed Bantams assigned as Private 738, 19th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry (2nd County). March 1915 the first 1,000 men left Hartlepool for Cocken Hall after the departure of the 18th Battalion D.L.I. for the Western Front. Cocken Hall, owned by the Earl of Durham, Lord Lambton, had been transformed into a barracks with a bath house, rifle range, canteen and a recreation room. Trenches had been dug to simulate battle conditions. A month later they were moved to Masham in North Yorkshire and joined the 106 Brigade, 35th Division. After final training at Salisbury Plain the division departed to France, sailing from Southampton January 31st 1916.

The Bantams entered the trenches for the first time February 11th 1916 near Neuve Chapelle and later moved south to the Somme for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme. They did little fighting as they were ordered to dig new trenches near Longueval, they did however sustain casualties due to the constant shell fire. In August 1916 they left the Somme for the Arras sector where they were under constant gas and shell fire, so much so, that their numbers were greatly reduced. The new reinforcements were medically unfit for duty in comparison to the original recruits, to the point that each Bantam was examined and if found unfit sent back to the Labour Corps, this marked the end of the 35th Division.

During 1917 the battalion participated during the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium before being rushed back to the Somme when the Germans attacked again on that front in March 1918, returning to Belgium during the Advance to Victory and were in billets at Everbecq when the Armistice was declared November 11th 1918.

Unfortunately, Hugh’s military record has not been found it is therefore impossible to know his exact movements. Private 738 Hugh Keenan Durham Light Infantry died, “at home,” December 12th 1918, cause, vascular decease of the heart, he was officially discharged from the Army, January 10th 1919.

His disability, deemed to be a consequence of war service and his demise whilst still a member of the armed forces, entitled him to be interred with all military honours and his name to be entered as a casualty of war with the CWGC. He is at rest within Lemington Cemetery, Newburn, Northumberland, grave reference II. U. 1276. Private Keenan was 30 years of age and single.

His father John of 32, Beaumont Street, Westerhope, applied for a pension, March 17th 1920, which was assessed March 20th, approved March 29th and granted in the sum of 7 shillings 6 pence a week as of March 30th 1920.

Although all of his brothers would have been eligible for war service only the details of Private Isaac Keenan, who served with the Northumberland Fusiliers have been found.

Exact details as regards the demise of John Keenan are uncertain. Census records indicate he was born in 1864, his son’s pension record 1867. A John Keenan died in 1939 aged 71 years (1867/68) in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. It is probable it is he, after his marriage to Esther, who was 17 years his junior, John altered his age in the 1911 census to appear to be slightly older than his years thus reducing the difference in their ages. His widow Esther Keenan nee Mitchinson died in 1948 aged 66 years, registered in the district of Durham Northern.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Hugh Keenan is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01

The CWGC entry for Private Keenan