Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Durban McDonald KEARY #7500 3rd Battalion

Durban Keary was born in Ipswich to George and Flora Keary. George Keary was a veteran of the Boer War (he signed the Roll of Honour Circular: G Keary Lt (retd) SA Field Forces). Durban attended Boonah State School. Prior to his enlistment, he reported 1year service with the Moreton Regiment and 3years service with the permanent artillery.

By the time that Durban presented himself for enlistment at Liverpool in Sydney, he was 34 years old. He gave his occupation as shearer. On 13th April 1917 Durban was taken on as part of the 25th Reinforcements of the 3rd Battalion. Between enlistment and embarkation for overseas, Durban spent some time at Seymour in Victoria training in a Light Trench Mortar Battalion and also some time at Liverpool in a technical battalion. Durban embarked on the Euripides in Sydney on 31st October 1917 and disembarked at Devonport UK on 26th December.

Durban spent three months in training at Sutton Veney before crossing from Dover to Calais on April Fool’s Day 1918. He marched into the billets of the 3rd Battalion three weeks later.

The spring of 1918 saw much activity along the Western Front. German attacks on the Somme and in the Ypres salient in Belgium caused the Australian Divisions which had been in rest areas to be rushed into hastily prepared defences to meet the German advances. Four Australian divisions were deployed in the defence of Amiens on the Somme but the 1st Division; of which the 3rd Battalion was part remained in the front line near Strazeele and Meteren on the Belgian border.

The 1st Division was eventually deployed to the Somme as well and joined the other four divisions to make up the Australian Army Corps under Lt Gen John Monash.
The 3rd Battalion had arrived in time for the opening day of the Battle of Amiens on 8th August which resulted in a huge defeat for the German forces and became the prelude to the end of the war.

The British and Australian forces kept touch with the German’s disorderly retreat back to the Hindenburg Line, fighting significant battles at Peronne and Mt St Quentin. By October, the Australian divisions were exhausted from almost four years of war. Enlistments had never kept up with attrition since Pozieres in July 1916 and every battalion was understrength. The decision was made to pull all the Australians out of the line. Some; those who had enlisted in 1914 and 1915, were to be repatriated back to Australia. On 11th November, the war came to an end.

Durban, who had come relatively late to the conflict, would have to wait some time before it would be his turn to go home. He had spent some time as part of the Brigade Guard in October 1918 and with the signing of the armistice, the men were kept busy with sporting competitions.

On 22nd November, Durban reported sick to 1st Brigade Field Ambulance. From there he was transferred to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station and finally was transferred to the #20 Australian General Hospital at Camiers. A red cross report quotes the Commanding Officer at the hospital as recording that the casualty presented with a high fever. He collapsed and died immediately after admission. At least one document recorded influenza and pneumonia as cause of death but that was changed to PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin).

Durban Keary was buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery. His headstone carries the inscription “His duty done.”