Alfred James Keeble

Alfred James Keeble was born in Greenwich in about 1889, and lived with his parents and sisters at 4 Orchard Cottage, Perry Street, Chiselhurst, Kent until he was 18. He then enlisted in the army at Woolwich in 1907 in the RA (RH & RFA) - Royal Artillery (Royal Horse & Royal Field Artillery). He was posted as a driver, regimental number 47604, to 94 Battery RFA and was stationed in Britain from September 1907 until 30 October 1908, after which he spent two and three-quarter years in South Africa until 8 November 1910, followed by three and a half years with 38 Brigade RFA at Rawalpindi in India up to 2 April 1914, then transferring back to Britain, and for a period being placed on the reserve list. While in India, he obtained a 3rd Class Certificate of Education on 27 July 1912 at Karachi.

In August 1914 he was posted as a driver to 34/2 Battery which was part of 38 Brigade RFA as part of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force), and went to France on 10 September 1914. His unit was renamed “R” Battery of the 6th London Brigade RFA in April 1916, then “B” Battery of 238 RFA Brigade in May 1916, finally becoming 34th Battery of 189 Brigade in January 1917.

From early 1915 38 Brigade RFA (and the subsequent brigades to which 34 battery was attached) formed part of the 2nd Infantry (London) Division (renamed 47th (1/2nd London) Division in 1915), and as such would have provided artillery fire in all actions the Division was in. These included the Battle of Aubers Ridge, the Battle of Festubert, the Battle of Loos, the 1 July 1916 Battle of the Somme (1916), including the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and the capture of High Wood. After mid-1916 battles included the Battle of Le Transloy, the Battle of Messines, and the Battle of Cambrai (1917). As a driver Albert Keeble would have been involved in either hauling the guns, or transporting ammunition, soldiers and stores.

He remained in France until 13 August 1918, after which he got 14 days leave (furlough), then back to France until 9 January 1919. After a further 238 days service back in Britain he was demobilised and pensioned. He must have had earlier leave however as he married Deborah Copsey at the parish church in Sidcup on 13 June 1917, and their first daughter, Joan Beryl, was born on 10 March 1918 in Sidcup. After leaving the army they lived at 2 High Street, Sidcup, kent. He was finally found unfit for further military service and removed from the army reserve at age 32 in 1922.