KEOGH, Bernard
| Service Number: | 5126 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 January 1916, Place of Enlistment Blackboy Hill, Western Australia. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Prahan, Victoria, Australia, 31 December 1882 |
| Home Town: | Northam, Northam, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers College St Kilda, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer. |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 16 April 1917, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Northam Fallen, Northam Memorial Hospital, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5126, 11th Infantry Battalion, Place of Enlistment Blackboy Hill, Western Australia. | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 5126, 11th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
| 31 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 5126, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Fremantle | |
| 20 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5126, 11th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , Gunshot Wound to the ankle |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Bernard was killed at during the German attack at Lagnicourt during April 1917. The Australians were advancing whilst the Germans were retreating to the Hindenberg line near Bullecourt. The Germans attacked with 23 battalions against four Australian battalions, of which the 11th Battalion was the most advanced and exposed. The 11th Battalion had a huge front to defend and did so by occupying a line of outposts a few hundred yards apart and smaller sentry posts in between. The 11th Battalion eventually held the position, losing over 40 killed and 160 men captured by the Germans. Some of the outposts were completely overrun, and Lieutenant Charles Pope was awarded the Victoria Cross for the vigorous defence of his post.
It seems that Bernard Keogh was with one of the posts that was completely overrun, commanded by Lieutenant Stuart on the 16 April 1917. He was hit in the abdomen at about 7am in the morning and died at some point in the post during the day, according to several Red Cross reports from other members of his platoon. These members were all taken prisoner by the Germans when the post was finally surrendered at about 6pm that evening.
His brother Tom Keogh died of wounds in March 1917 and another brother Raymond Keogh was killed in action during October 1917.
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