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CS Keeping . British Army CS Keeping served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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SW Keeping . British Army Hampshire Regiment SW Keeping served with the Hampshire Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Norman Keer. . Royal Air Force I volunteered for the Royal Air Force (the Brylcreem Boys) in May, 1942. Having waited to be called up for a number of weeks, I wrote to remind them. The next thing I knew, they sent my call up papers. They must have thought I was very keen, as they invited me to attend a medical at Poplar Walk, Croydon. Well with a specimen here, and a cough there, I was passed as fit. There was only one snag-as a parting gift they gave me a dose of flu. My calling-up papers invited me to report at RAF Cardington in Bedfordshire on October 8th 1942. Grandpa came along to East Croydon to see me off.
Then it was on to Yarmouth for our initial training. We were allocated a billet at a house in Wellington Square, where we set about making ourselves comfortable. Life at Yarmouth was OK, that was until the Nazis paid us one or two flying visits, usually at breakfast time. They came whizzing down the High Street, with machine guns blazing: I suppose they were after the "E" Boats, or our bacon and eggs. There was a rumour that a Wellington Bomber had been shot down and was found to contain bodies of Germans. They were probably trying to discover our defence secrets - Radar etc - as they were set up on the East Coast.
Anyway the passing out parade went off OK and I was posted to Hull as I had volunteered for the RAF as a Radio Mechanic. Near my billet was a school which we attended for instruction and also the technical college - now Hull University. It was a most interesting course, originally at least a two and a half year course, now condensed into six months.
March 1st 1943 was half way through the course and the exam seemed to have gone OK. However, on April 4th. I was called, asked some technical questions, and was told that I was on the list for CT (Cease Training). I can only say that it was a terrible blow, and the worst shock I had ever had, up to that time. I felt that I had been punched in the stomach, and the feeling lasted for about a week.
So next stop was to RAF Sutton on Hull. After that I had to consider the opportunity of remustering to another trade in view of my recent failure. For this remustering, I had to go to a distant RAF station for a trade test as I had decided to go for a Radio Operator, as I had learned the Morse code in the Home Guard. Well, having gone through the trade test, the examiner's eyebrows shot up, and was so amazed at my result, that he went over to his assistant, then came back to me and said that had passed the test with 98% pass which was marvellous and usually unobtainable. So I was good at something - that's news. My training with the Home Guard had paid off. Next stop a spot of leave.
I was then posted to RAF Blackpool and put on a Morse code course over Burtons the tailors. After a week or two of this I used to get headaches as the Morse speed was so slow. If and when you maybe fail the course, they said that you "had gone for a Burton”.
While at Blackpool, we unfortunately found we had bugs in the billet. So we had to have all our kit dealt with at the local hospital. You never know where they may have crept to.
Anyway we were-on parade as usual one day, when the WO called out a list of names, and said “Report at the orderly room at 10.30, you have volunteered for the Navy”. Well it was a bit of a surprise, what next I wonder? I reported and went home on 7 days’ leave.
Having left our RAF kit at Uxbridge at 11.15 a.m. on October the 8th I arrived at HMS Royal Arthur at 5.45 p.m. the same day.
The changeover from RAF to RN was not really to my liking, although I probably would not have travelled to such exciting places had I stayed in the RAF. The RN uniform is a bit peculiar to get used to, and although I suppose it was looked on as being “tiddley" as they say, it was really not very practical when compared with other service uniforms. The uniform was rather thin, and I caught a chill in the kidneys. While I was there I had to stand to attention in respect to a rating who had just died of meningitis. Was the RN not a very healthy place then? I would find out.
There was one occasion when we were being given a lecture by an RN officer. There was some talking and larking about. He said that if we didn't shut, he would give us a bottle. What on earth was he talking about? It sounded like a load of rubbish to us ex RAF lads. I must say that the RAF seemed to be a fairly gentlemanly service and what were we to make of the RN practice of waking the lads by banging on their door with a wooden truncheon with a metal end? I suppose it was an updated version of a rope's end used in the days of Captain Bligh.
Of course there were duties to be done. Guard duty was on top of the water tower via a vertical ladder, past some pumping machinery. As it was November, it was a frosty night, so we made some cups of "pussers kye": a form of special chocolate grated into boiling water. Lovely but very hot.
November 11th, basic training completed, and I was posted to the Isle of Man. Of course I was not alone, there were quite a few WT operators who came over from the RAF and the Army. So on the train to Fleetwood in Lancashire where we arrived at about 6.30 in the morning, brrr. Unfortunately the sea was rather rough when we went on board M. V. Snafell and had lunch. It was O.K. but I had my eye looking out of the porthole at a boat in the harbour that was bobbing about like a cork. The trip was rough and mal-de-mer was top of the menu.
On arrival on the Isle of Man, I was billeted at a house on the front in Douglas, and we had another course of instruction. This time RN morse, working up to a speed of 22 words a minute (Army and RAF speeds were 18 words p.m.) also transmitting and receiving procedures.
Well I passed the necessary tests, and became a Wireless Telegraphist. My posting came up and I went to HMS Mercury, the RN Signal School near Petersfield, Hampshire. More courses. Some of the lads would lose all their pay on playing cards. We learned many things, including RN codes. It was very interesting.
Well there was a most beneficial tradition in the RN, it was the rum ration. There were three grades: UA - Under 20 years of Age; G for Grog (i.e. rum issue); and T - Temperance. Well some kind sailor gave me his ration while I was underage. The ration was usually "two and one" i.e. two of water and one of rum. There are also "Neaters" which I hope is self explanatory. After that tot of rum I went and lay down, and slept for two hours.
While at the signal school, there were physical events in which we all had to take part, like an assault course. In our class there was a thick b---er who came from Dunmow. We were supposed to climb along a rope between two poles. It was a matter of doing it slothwise, head first, feet trailing. Well he was ahead of me, and although he was a large chap he was abysmally slow, in spite of him being shouted at loudly. I was behind him, had just got onto the rope and was looking upwards, when out of a clear blue sky comes a thumping great boot on my nose. It wasn't a great shnozzle before, but became rather swollen. I let go of the rope with my hands, and hung upside down by my feet. A wash in cold water helped a bit, and washed away the blood so I was really not too bad. And do, you know, that lout never even apologised.
Well time and training went on. l was one of the "Jim Crow's" party who had to go round the main building, checking for all blackouts to be drawn. I was just checking the WRNS' floor and opened a loo door (unlocked) and found a young lady sitting on the pan. Another door opened on to a bedroom with a number of young ladies therein partially clothed (scream) they didn't even invite me in.
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WH Keetley . British Army Royal Army Medical Corps WH Keetley served with the Royal Army Medical Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Muleteer. Leslie "Nak" Kegg . British Army 77 Chindit Col. from Whitehaven Leslie Kegg served with the Long Range Penetration Group in 77 Chindit Brigade.
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Pte. Frank Kehoe . British Army 5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment from Dingle, Liverpool (d.24th July 1944) A war veterans education project has brought together a World War II veteran and the family of another Liverpool man, who was killed next to him in battle.
The members of the Kehoe family never knew Frank Kehoe, from Dingle, who was killed, aged just 19, in July 1944 while fighting for his country near Caen in north west France.
But thanks to the Giving Veterans a Voice project, led by writer Lesley Van DeMark, who works at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) as a student support mentor, they have now met his former comrade in arms, Bob Laverty.
The project also included They Need You, a song inspired by the veterans and written by Emma Buckley, a LIPA student who performs under the name Ruby Sky. It has been released on iTunes with proceeds going to the Royal British Legion. Tony Kehoe, one of Frank's nephews, says: Frank and Bob joined the army at the same time, when they were 18, and Bob was saying they were the young ones, the oldest ones, who they looked up to, were just 20.
Frank was killed instantly by a shrapnel mine, I knew my uncle died in the war, but to have the details from someone who was there has brought it all together.
Giving Veterans a Voice, which was funded by Liverpool City Council and the Ministry of Defence, saw veterans sharing their memories for a DVD, which is being used as a teaching aid in schools. A celebration event to mark the end of the project took place at the Florence Institute in Dingle, which Bob and Frank, although they didn't know each other then, went to as youngsters.
Bob, 90, who now lives in Lydiate, says: I was delighted to meet Frank's relatives, I did, years and years ago, meet his mother. Frank was such a nice, respectful and decent lad, a smashing lad. It was such a good day at the Florrie, and such a good song.
Report from the Liverpool Echo.
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2nd Eng. Hans Joergen Keiding . Merchant Navy Erna III (d.25th September 1941) My uncle Hans Joergen Heiding was in the Merchant Navy. He served on Erna III which was torpedoed by U562 after staggling behind Convoy SC 44 22 in September 1941. This ship was eastbound from Sydney and got into rough weather. There were no survivors. He also sailed in the Danish ship Slesvig in 1940 and perhaps a ship called Rikke. Does anyone remember him?
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Gnr. Leonard John Keift . British Army 1st Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery from Swansea
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F/Sgt. H. Keighan . RCAF 428 Sqd. Keighan crew of 428 Squadron RCAF, who were shot down on operations to Frankfurt on December 20/21, 1943. Back row from L to R: F/O K. Mosher RCAF, Navigator; Sgt J. Slater RAF Wireless Op;Sgt T. Dagnall RAF, Rear Gunner; Sgt G. Kensall RAF, Mid-upper Gunner. Front Row L to R: Sgt G. Jessiman RCAF, Flight Engineer; F/Sgt J. Keighan RCAF, taken POW, Pilot; W/O2 E. Tycoles RCAF, Bomb aimer.
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Flight Sergeant J L Keighan . RCAF 428 Squadron Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
F/S J.L.Keighan was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463.
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Flight Sergeant J L Keighan . RCAF 428 Squadron Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW, interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
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Frank Parker Keighley . Royal Air Force 38 Sqdn.
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J Keighley . British Army J Keighley served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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NC Keir . British Army Royal Armoured Corps NC Keir served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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CQMS. Joseph William Reynold Keirl . British Army from Treherbert My taid, Joseph Keirl from South Wales Treherbert, who passed when I was around 4 yrs old, served in India before the war. He was apparently a QuaterMaster and received the radio message when war was first declared (possibly a CRM)
My family & I unfortunately know very little to his service years, nor have any photographs of him young.
He was born in 1915, visited Agra, India during ww2 (could possibly pin point battalion no.)
He was apparently captured by Japanese soldiers and was torched, he had burnt feet and legs. He saw men being hung by their testicles by Japanese soldiers, but never spoke of what happened.
My taid Joseph also contracted tropical diseases such as Yellow Fever and Berri Berri, both times in hospital(treatment) his belongings were stolen.
I've been told he had a wife in the NAAFI.
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Gnr. Eddie J. Keiser . South African Army 2nd Field Rgt from South Africa
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A Keith . British Army Gordon Highlanders A Keith served with the Gordon Highlanders British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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DG Keith . British Army Reconnaissance Corps DG Keith served with the Reconnaissance Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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F Keith . British Army Staffordshire Yeomanry F Keith served with the Staffordshire Yeomanry British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Sgt. G A Keith . Royal Air Force 115 Squadron Sergeant GA Keith served with 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force during WW2. He was a prisoner of war at Stalag 8b.
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J Keith . British Army 4th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment J Keith served with the 4th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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RW Keithley . British Army Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment RW Keithley served with the Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Musician Peter Keld . Royal Marines HMS Nigeria from Swinton (d.26th Oct 1914) My granddad, Peter Keld, served as a Royal Marine Musician on the Nigeria, joining her during her refit in Charleston and only leaving after the war for service with various aircraft carriers (including the Eagle, Ocean and Implacable), before leaving the Navy in 1954.
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Pte. Horace Cecil Keleher . British Army 35th LAA Regiment, 78 Battery Royal Artillery from Bermondsey Horace Keleher served with 78th Battery, 35th LAA Regiment.
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Harry Kelk . British Army Military Police from Chippenham Harry Kelk served with the Military Police. I am trying to find more about his service.
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Flt.Sgt. Lancelot Kell . 514 Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force from New Zealand (d.14th Jan 1944) During the Second World War many allied airmen trained on the Canadian prairies. They were assigned to families in the area for places to visit when on leave. Two young men from the RNZAF were assigned to my grandparents' home in Calgary, Alberta. One airman was Flight Sergeant Lance Kell (wireless operator/air gunner) who married my aunt before being sent overseas. He was assigned to 514 Squadron at Waterbeach. Kell was shot down near Hanover on a bombing run on 14th of January 1944 at the age of 29. Other members of the crew wereL Paul Mason RNZAF (pilot, 23), Ron Laishley RAF (flight engineer, 19), James Gallagher RNZAF (navigator, 22). All were killed. Two other crew members - Flight Sgt. Dimmock (bomb aimer) and Sgt. Dennis (rear gunner) may have survived.
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HJ Kellam . British Army Royal Armoured Corps HJ Kellam served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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AE Kelland . British Army AE Kelland served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Mary Helen Kellerher . Auxiliary Terriorial Service
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A Kellett . British Army Yorkshire Regiment A Kellett served with the Yorkshire Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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