Name
George Thomas Keen
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/02/1919
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
101589
Royal Garrison Artillery
10th Fire Command
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NORTHCHURCH (ST. MARY) NEW CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Stiil Missed
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted War memorial,
Not on the Northchurch memorials
Pre War
George Thomas was born in Northchurch in 1879 to Joseph Keen and Eliza (nee Geary).
In 1901 George married Sarah Jane Sterne and they lived with his older brother George and his family. By 1911 George was living in Cromer and working as a gardener. There would be 2 sons and 3 daughters.
Wartime Service
George was conscripted in to Royal Garrison Artillery on 1 July 1916 giving his address as Leason, Rye Sussex.
After training at Bexhill and Aldershot he was posted to BEF on 2 Jan 1918. By 23 Aug 1918 he was admitted to hospital and evacuated to UK to Hospital in Birmingham.
He had a number of spells in hospitals culminating in Eastern General Hosp. Brighton suffering from Bronchitis and Pneumonia. He died on 2 Feb 1919 with his wife Sarah at his bedside. He was interred in St Marys Churchyard. His widow later resided at Swing Gate Lane, Great Berkhamstead, Herts
Additional Information
His wife, Mrs. S. J. Keen, 9, Swing Gate Lane, Great Berkhamstead, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "Stiil Missed".
War Gratuity £15 and arrears of £17 19s 11d together with pension of 37s 11d paid to widow Sarah.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/first-world-war-database
