Name
George Henry Keene
Circa 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1915
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3199
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
No. 3 Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WOBURN ABBEY CEMETERY, CUINCHY
I. H. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS
UK & Other Memorials
Ware Town Memorial, St Mary’s Church Memorial, Ware, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
George was born in around 1892 in Reading, Berkshire and his parents were Charles and Alice Jane Keene, although surname appears as both Keen and Keene in different records.
In 1901 the family were living at 6 Manchester Road, Reading, Berks. Present were both parents: Charles (43) and Alice (43), Charles was recorded as a superintendent at the post office. Their children were: Maud A (19), Nellie M (13) and George Henry (9)
In 1911 the family were still living at 6 Manchester Road, Reading. Present were both parents and all three children. George was as a clerk in the estate office of works assistant superintendent. The census recorded they had been married for 30 years with 3 children, all living.
He moved to Ware in 1913 to work for Mr Gilbey, Town Clerk and solicitor. He enlisted between 5 September and 4 November 1914.
Officially George was recorded as born and living in Reading, Berks. When he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
George was given Regimental number 3199. At some time he served in 4 Company, but at the time of his death, according to the CWGC records, was serving in 3 Company. He landed in France on 23 January 1915.
He was killed in action.
The Hertfordshires were serving as part of the 6th Brigade in the 2nd Division of I Corps in the 1st Army at the time of his death. This was at the end of the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt which is in the area of Auchy-les-Mines and Cuinchy where he lies buried.
He is buried in Plot I, Row H, Grave 1 in the Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais in France.
Additional Information
His father, Charles Keene, ordered his headstone inscription when living at 9, Eldon Rd., Reading, it read: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS".
After his death £7 5s 0d was authorised to go to his father on 13 January 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £4 was authorised to be paid to him on 18 August 1919.
His pension cards record x, his widow/father/mother, as his next of kin/dependant, living at x, Hitchin. He/She was awarded a pension of 6s 6d a week from 13 May 1919.
In SDITGW as Keen.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Jonty Wild
