On Chatham Naval Memorial is the name of 4677 ES Engineman Robert Keers, serving on H.M. Trawler Achilles II with the Royal Naval Reserve who died 26/06/1918.

The son of Richard and Emma Keers, of South Shields and the husband of Mary Keers, of 102, Laurel Street, Wallsend, Northumberland.

Colin Boyd has provided the following:

Robert was born in South Shields on 13th June 1894, the son of Richard and Emma Keers. He was living with his wife, Mary at 102, Laurel Street, Wallsend when he enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve on 28th February 1916. He was described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall with fair hair and grey eyes.

On 26th June 1918 he was killed on board HMT Achilles II off Harwich when it was sunk by a mine explosion. When his final War Gratuity was paid in 1924 his widow was then Mrs. Mary Adams living at the Wallsend address.

Robert Keers is remembered at South Shields on S86.015, at  Wallsend on W7.04 and W7.19 and  in our List of Ships’ Crews.