Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Brothers Keid

Charles and Mary Keid were the parents of nine children, six of them boys. By 1914 the family had moved to “Chewton”, Molonga Terrace, Graceville. All six of the Keid boys enlisted in the First World War; and four of them would lose their lives. Three of the deceased brothers are commemorated on the Sherwood Shire memorial. The story of the Keid family’s sacrifice has been recorded in a number of media reports recently as well as in a book by Cedric Hampson; “The Brothers Keid.” Since the stories of all six boys are so interwoven, I have grouped their narratives together, and in the interests of completion, I will include Leonard Keid. Leonard, the only brother to be married with a family, is not listed on the Sherwood Memorial but is instead commemorated on the Coorparoo Shire Memorial at Langlands Park.

All six brothers are listed on the Sherwood Methodist Church Roll of Honour.

Bennet Walter Keid                                      # 3809  Sergeant  49th Battalion

Bennet (usually known as Walter) Keid was born at Ormeau. He attended school at Junction Park State School and Christian Brothers Gregory Terrace; this in spite of the fact that his mother was a devout Baptist. Walter was the fourth eldest of the six brothers and by the time he enlisted on 6th May 1915, four of his brothers had already enlisted. His elder brother Leonard enlisted nine days later.

Walter was drafted as a reinforcement into the 49th Battalion and embarked from Brisbane on the “Itonus” on 30th December 1915. When he arrived in Egypt the AIF was going through a period of expansion after the withdrawal from Gallipoli. The 49th Battalion was being created out of a nucleus of Gallipoli veterans from the 9th Battalion and newly arrived reinforcements.

The 49th continued to train in Egypt for the next three months during which time Walter was promoted to corporal and then sergeant. The battalion left Alexandria in June 1916 and arrived in Marseilles on 12th June. From Marseilles, the battalion was transported by train to the rear areas of the western front for acclimatisation to the business of trench warfare.

Haig; Supreme British Commander in France and Belgium; launched the Battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916. As the situation on the Somme called for increasing manpower, Haig brought three Australian Divisions (1st, 2nd and 4th) to the staging areas around Albert to use in the assault on Pozieres.

The 1st and 2nd Divisions were thrust into the struggle for Pozieres first during late July and early August, and had secured the village and the important blockhouse on the site of a windmill above the village. It was now the turn of the 4th Division; which included the 49th Battalion, to continue the offensive towards a ruined farm which the Germans had heavily fortified by extending the cellars and creating a line of three defensive trenches. The farm was depicted on the maps as “La Ferme du Mouquet” but the Australians referred to it as “Moo Cow Farm” or “Mucky Farm.”

The assault on the farm began at midnight on the 3rd/4th September 1916. It was conducted on an ever narrowing front that was enfiladed by German artillery and machine guns on three sides. The ground was so churned up that advancing troops could not recognise a trench line when they reached it. Attempts to dig new trenches were unsuccessful due to the loose ground caving in. The 49th was finally withdrawn from the battle for Mouquet Farm without the objective being reached at considerable cost. The 4th Division had sustained 4650 casualties. The 49th Battalion has sustained 430 out of a strength of 1000. Amongst those listed as killed were Walter Keid and his elder brother Leonard.

Red Cross Wounded and Missing Reports indicate that Sergeant Keid was killed outright by shell fire. Walter was the third of the brothers to have lost his life in the war, but would not be the last.

Courtesy of Ian Lang

Mango Hill

"...3809 Sergeant Bennett Walter Keid, 49th Battalion of Graceville Qld. Sgt Keid, a postal clerk at the GPO in civilian life, was killed in action on 3 September 1916 at Mouquet Farm. He was one of six brothers who enlisted, four of whom were killed in action and one wounded. His brother Lieutenant Leonard Keid served in the same battalion, and was killed on the same day." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)