Name
George Keen
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/05/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
12033
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. AMAND BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot I, Row A, Grave 3.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford,
Leighton Buzzard War Memorial, Bedfordhire
Pre War
Son of Thomas and Mary (nee MORRIS) KEEN.
His parents married 1888 in the Newport Pagnell, Bucks, district. Mary died 1897 in the Leighton Buzzard, Beds, district aged 29. Thomas remarried 1899 in the Leighton Buzzard district to Mary Ann ELLINGHAM, and died 1939 in the Aylesbury, Bucks, district aged 70; Mary Ann died 1925 in the Leighton Buzzard district aged 68.
George was born 11 September 1895 in Linslade, Bucks, and baptised 21 March 1896 at St Barnabas’, Linslade. he attended first Beaudesert Infants’ School, Leighton Buzzard; then Leighton Buzzard British School from 31 August 1903 to 30 July 1909. He resided in Leighton Buzzard.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Leighton Buzzard, with his father, step-mother and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, a house boy aged 15, he still lived in Leighton Buzzard, with his father, step-mother and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 July 1915, and died at 49 Field Ambulance, France, of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, George’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
