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War Memorial
Australia

"...445 Private Frank Keighery, 24th Battalion, of Lang Lang, Vic. Pte Keighery enlisted in 20 March 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Euripides on 10 May 1915. He was killed in action on 11 September 1915 at Brown's Dip, near Lone Pine on the Gallipoli Peninsula." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

"PTE. F. KEIGHERY.

The following letter has been received from Pte. Frank Keighery (killed in action) by his parents at Lang Lang:-  

Thursday (I think) 8th Sep. Dear — Here we are again. Landed at midnight on Sunday, and was marched with the rest of the company up a gully that leads from the beach. As we progressed the sound of rifle firing became louder and louder, and pretty soon bullets were whining, droning and singing over our heads, and though we were in no danger of being hit, the whiz of the missles reminded us that our playing at war was over, and that we were in the real thing. Every few minutes a flash out at sea would be followed by a roar that shook the hills, and a shell from one of the battle ships would sigh through the air, and another flash and report would reverberate in the gullies as projectiles exploded on the far-away hill fortress of the enemy. We slept anywhere at all when halted in a deep ravine, and next morning we crawled into dugouts on one side and stopped there till Tuesday morning, when we were moved into trenches on the top of an exceedingly steep hill. Have been here till now, but leave for other trenches at 9 to-day. I have only had one shot at the Turks out of a periscope rifle. It was a put-up job. If you don't know how to hold them they buck some. I didn't know how to hold this rifle, and though I sighted all right by means of the mirrors, when I pulled the trigger me, the gun and a couple of sandbags got mixed up on the floor of the trench. Don't know where the bullet went, and don't care, either. Had charge of three men watching a hole in the roof of a sap which leads under the Turkish trenches only 30 yards in front of ours. This hole was only 8 yards from the enemy's lair, and we had orders to shoot at anything that moved over it. As we were warned that they occasionally threw a bomb into the hole, and given instructions how to act on such an occasion, we don't feel like going to sleep. None came, however, but we could hear the murmur of the Turks' voices, and every minute or so a bullet would whack into their trench or they would fire over us. Was relieved only a while ago (half past 7). 

Just breakfasted on tea, bacon, bully beef and biscuits. Am very well, but have not had a wash or had my clothes off since we landed. All day yesterday, as I sat here in my dug-out on the side of the hill (at the rear of trenches) our guns shelled the enemy's guns, and the latter replied by shelling ours, the shells passing over our heads, and exploding on the opposite ridge, 200 yards away, where our guns were. Also a sniper of ours was continually firing just over our heads. Talk about a din. Don't worry about me. I'll take every care of myself, and if the Higher Powers decree that I should pay the extreme price you will know that it will be for some good end...      

The following letter was received from a comrade:-  

On Active Service — Sept. 14th. Dear Mrs Keighery, — I was a comrade of your son Frank, and it is with deep regret I have to tell you that your son was killed in action last Saturday evening about 6.45 p.m. He was sitting at the rear of the firing trench at the time, when a shell from a Turkish cannon, known to us as the "75", burst on the front of the trench, killing Frank instantaneously. He and I became good friends, and it was only the same morning that he gave me your address in case anything serious happened to him. I am proud to tell you he was a game soldier, this was his second day in the firing line. Mrs. Keighery, I cannot say more, but would like to add that your boy often spoke of you and your husband, and he also hoped one day in the future to return and settle down with you all, for he looked forward to a very happy future. Kindly accept my sympathy in your sad loss, also that of all his numerous comrades, and believe me, yours sincerely, George T. Stewart.

From his commanding officer:-

The Front, 15 | 9 | 15  Mrs Keighery, Madam,— I regret to have to inform you of the death of your son, Private Keighery of this Company. He was killed by a shell last Saturday in the trenches. Death was practically instantaneous, and I think he suffered no pain. I was exceedingly sorry to lose him as he was of the best of character, and a very useful member of the Company. His death was fighting for King and Country, and no man can wish a finer end than that. With deepest sympathy, I am, yours faithfully, Charles E. Manning. Major." - from the Lang Lang Guardian 03 Nov 1915 (/admin/people/297734/PTE.%20F.%20KEIGHERY.)