KEAM, Frank Finley
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Dunedin, New Zealand, 2 July 1879 |
| Home Town: | Nobby, Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 27 June 1917, aged 37 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium PLOT II. E. 11. |
| Memorials: | Clifton War Memorial, Pilton District WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 3rd Pioneer Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1916: | Involvement 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Jun 1916: | Embarked 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne | |
| 13 Oct 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 27 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Battle of Messines |
Help us honour Frank Finley Keam's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Extract from Divisional Routine Order No. 262, 31/7/17 and a letter to Lieutenant Frank Keam's wife in October 1917 from the commanding officer of the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, A.I.F. regarding the circumstances of Lieutenant Keam's death:
'The Major-General commanding wishes to place on record and to express his appreciation of the action performed by Lieut. Frank Findley Keam, 3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion, which cost him his life. On the night of 26th-27th June 1917 at Petit Douve Farm near Messines Ridge the enemy put down a heavy barrage on the tramway construction party of C Company of the 3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion. Second Lieut. Raymont was wounded. I.ieuts. Frank Keam and Frederick Christmas endeavoured to take him to a place of safety, but the shell-fire was so severe that after Second Lieut. Raymont had been wounded a second time, Lieut. Keam protected him with his own body and was killed while so doing. Lieut. Christmas was also killed in this action.'
The above shows the most gallant and noble manner in which your late husband met his death. One knows of no greater sacrifice or bravery, than that of an officer or man who lays down his life and so saves that of a comrade in arms. This was only one example-of the bravery of Lieut. Keam and his death was a blow to the officers, N.C.Os and men of his battalion, to whom he was so well known. His loss to the battalion will be difficult to replace and the reasons for his appreciations can now be more readily understood and some slight consolation felt that the opportunity of giving expression to this appreciation has been presented so that others, besides those intimately connected with him, have some recognition of the value of the services of the late Lieut. Keam to his country.—Your sincerely, Robert Law Lieut-Colonel, C.O. 3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion, A.I.F.
Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page28111882
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