Name
Henry Mary William O'Keefe
Circa 1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/03/1919
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
A/358090
Royal Army Service Corps (Canteens)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BROOKWOOD 1914-1918 MEMORIAL
Panel 3
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary’s Church Memorial Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Henry has proved quite elusive with seemingly vague connections to Hitchin. What we have found appears below and any further information grateful received>
He was born around 1879 in Edinburgh, Midlothian. His parents were George and Mary Ann O’Keefe.
In 1881 the family were living at 23 George Iv Bridge, 23, Old Greyfriars, Edinburgh. Present were both parents: George (45) and Mary Ann (33) and their children were: Harriet (8), Nora (5), George D (3) and Henry William Mary (2). A servant, Jessie B Rankin (38) was also present.
In 1891 Henry was a scholar at Mount St Mary’s College, a Roman Catholic Public School, at Sprinkhill, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
We have not yet found him in the 1901 census, but married around 1909, with his wife’s name Olive Elizabeth Alberta O’Keefe.
The 1911 census records them living at 8 Asmuns Place, Garden City, Hendon, London N W. Henry was working as commercial clerk and Olive as teacher of music. He was from Edinburgh and she from South Australia . The census recorded they had been married for 2 years with 1 child George, 10 months old.
Wartime Service
Henry W. O'Keefe, an Acting Corporal (A/358090) in the Royal Army Service Corps (Canteens).
It was recorded that he committed suicide by drowning on the 25th March 1919, whilst temporarily insane.
Additional Information
Probate was granted on 24 June 1919 when his address was recorded as 79 Montpelier Rise, Golders Green, Middlesex. His effects were valued at £746 18s 6d.
His pension cards record his widow as his dependant, she was living at 43 Walworth Road, Hitchin and this seems to be Henry’s connection to Hitchin. There are no details of any pension award. The address on the cards was amended several times as his widow returned to Australia. The order of the address amendments in not clear but probably: 38 Fifth Avenue, St Peters, South Australia. Later C/o Mrs Sells, 40 Pier Street, Glenelg South Australian – perhaps she had remarried?
His medals were recorded as returned and then re-issued 45 Hacking Road, East Adelaide, South Australia.
