KEAST, William Reginald
| Service Number: | 60 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Royal Flying Corps |
| Born: | Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 9 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Auburn, Boroondara, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Wesley College, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 21 August 1917, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Hawthorn Auburn Methodist Church Honour Roll WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 60, 2nd Field Company Engineers | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1914: | Involvement Sapper, 60, 2nd Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orvieto embarkation_ship_number: A3 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1914: | Embarked Sapper, 60, 2nd Field Company Engineers, HMAT Orvieto, Melbourne | |
| 8 Jul 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 60, 2nd Field Company Engineers | |
| 26 Aug 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 2nd Field Company Engineers | |
| 30 Aug 1915: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 1st Field Company Engineers | |
| 1 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Field Company Engineers | |
| 22 Oct 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Field Company Engineers, Discharged to the Royal Flying Corps | |
| 23 Oct 1916: | Involvement Royal Flying Corps |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Keast enlisted in AIF during September 1914, and was posted to 2nd Field Company Engineers. He was wounded at Anzac, 8 July 1915, shrapnel to the arm. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in August 1915 and promoted Lieutenant, before the end of 1915. He was twice recommended for the award of a Military Cross at Pozieres during 1916 but received no award.
“Laid out and supervised the construction of Strong Points during the operations against Pozieres from 20th to 25th July and acted with great coolness under very heavy fire. Carried out a reconnaissance in daylight on the 24th to the N.E. of Pozieres in a very exposed position under heavy shell fire and gained valuable information.”
“from 18 to 22 August 1916, Lieutenant Keast was in charge of his section in the construction of strong points and communication trenches and displayed great ability and courage in directing the work under very heavy shell fire and exceptionally difficult conditions.”
Discharged from AIF on 22nd October, 1916, receiving commission next day in Royal Flying Corps.
Keast was injured in February 1917 when in training his Caudron aircraft stalled when climbing and turning at same time. By July he was with 66 Squadron which was equipped with the stable, easy to fly, yet underpowered Sopwith Pup. This aircraft, though an excellent trainer, was relatively outclassed by the mainstream German opponents that were then in the air. In June–August 1917, the Albatros D.III and Albatros D.V were the main fighters of the German airforce.
On the 7 July Keast was slightly wounded on offensive patrol.
On the 21 August 1917 Keast’s Sopwith Pup was last seen diving toward and enemy aircraft just northwest of Roulers. His was reported missing and his remains were never found.
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