KEITH, John
| Service Numbers: | 2598, 2599 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 September 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Newcastle New South Wales, Australia, April 1890 |
| Home Town: | Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Boilermaker's assistant |
| Died: | Newcastle Hospital, New South Wales, Australia, 3 January 1932, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW PRESBYTERIAN-10NW. 76 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2598, 36th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2599, 36th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2599, 36th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 2 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2598, 34th Infantry Battalion |
Private John Keith 2598
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery.
·
“I Once Was Lost but Now Am Found”
Another tragic story of a forgotten digger of The Great War and Sandgate Cemetery.
On the 2nd January 1932, Private John Keith, 34th Battalion, boilermaker's assistant (Government Dockyard), of Mitchell Street, Merewether, New South Wales and Digger's Camp, Cooks Hill, N.S.W., died as a result of exhaustion caused by tuberculosis, age 40.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165363367
Born at Merewether, New South Wales on the 9th April 1891 to John and Catherine Keith; husband of Rebecca Mary A Keith nee Williams (married 11.3.1916, died 1929, resting together), John enlisted September 1916 with the 36th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Wounded in action - 5.10.1917 (GSW left hand), 28.6.1918 (GSW right arm), John was invalided home March 1919.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139652084
John’s name has been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates and the Newcastle South Public School Roll of Honour.
A widower and father of three, Mr Keith was living at the unemployed Digger's camp when on the evening of the 1st January 1932 he staggered into the Newcastle police station in a pitiable condition, was rushed to Newcastle Hospital, but passed away the next morning.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165363324
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136866862
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165379501
For 84 years Mr Keith had been resting in an unmarked grave, so I had placed a cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service. PRESBYTERIAN-10NW. 76.
http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/…/war-…/index.php…
An application for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip submitted January 2019, and was accepted February 2019, completed July 2019.
Older brother Alexander Brown (Reg No-2596, 36th Battalion) resting at the cemetery in a marked grave.
I would ask family descendants to consider placing a plaque for Rebecca.
Lest We Forget.
Submitted 15 July 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
Gary Mitchell
“I Once was Lost, but Now am Found”.
Another tragic story of a Forgotten Digger of The Great War and Sandgate Cemetery.
87 years ago today, on the Sunday afternoon of the 3rd January 1932, Private John Keith, 34th Battalion, boilermaker's assistant (Government Dockyard), of Mitchell Street, Merewether, New South Wales and Digger's Camp, Cooks Hill, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 40. PRESBYTERIAN-10NW. 76.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165363367
Born at Merewether, New South Wales on the 9th April 1891 to John and Catherine Keith; husband of Rebecca Mary A Keith nee Williams (married 11.3.1916, died 1929), John enlisted September 1916 with the 36th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Wounded in action - 5.10.1917 (GSW left hand), 28.6.1918 (GSW right arm), John was invalided home March 1919.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139652084
His name has been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates and the Newcastle South Public School Roll of Honour (photo, unveiled on the 13th December 1918).
A widower and father of three (Vurden, Ruth and Loral), Mr Keith was living at the unemployed Digger's camp when on the evening of the 1st January 1932 he staggered into the Newcastle police station in a pitiable condition, was rushed to Newcastle Hospital, but passed away the next morning.
Coroner's report states death due to exhaustion caused by tuberculosis.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165363324
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136866862
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165379501
Mr Keith had been resting in an unmarked grave, forgotten, so I had placed a cross March 2016 adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service.
http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/index.php/war-heroes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&aso=exact&s_f=id&data_search=429161#3
An application for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip submitted January 2019, and was accepted February 2019, completed July 2019.
Older brother Alexander Brown (Reg No-2596, 36th Battalion, born 1885, died 1940) also resting at the cemetery in a marked grave.
I would ask family descendants to consider placing a plaque for Rebecca.
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.