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Another 1st Royal Dragoons man in Ladysmith 8 years 3 weeks ago #46032

  • Rory
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To go hand in hand with Samuel Beatty whose medal story I have posted on this Forum previously is that to William Keen

William Keen

Private, 1st Kings Royal Dragoons – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek and South Africa 1901 to 4068 Pte. W. Keen, 1 RL/Drgns.

William Keen was born in the town of Burton Upon Trent in Stafford, England the son of Thomas Keen and his wife Mary Ann and baptised on 6 September 1874. Tragedy struck at some point after his birth with the passing away of his father. This led to his mother remarrying an Ambrose Greenwood and it is in this gentleman’s home as his stepson that we find a 7 year old Keen at the time of the 1881 England census.

The house situated at 1 No. 2 Court, with the amalgamation of two families, was a large one comprising of the Keen siblings Catherine (14), Thomas (11), Ellen (9), William (7) and Mary Ann (5). In addition were the children born after the union of Mrs Keen to Mr Greenwood, twins Emily and Elizabeth Greenwood (2) and a lodger, Henry Cole. Mr Greenwood, still only 35, was a Bricklayer and Labourer by occupation.

Ten years later at the time of the 1891 England census the family were still resident in Burton Upon Trent but most of the children had left home with the exception of 1 17 year old William, a General Labourer by occupation, and new additions since the last census, Edith (9), Richard (7) and James (5)

Being the last of the grown up children at home William must have felt the need for a change in his situation. With this in mind he enlisted with the 5th Dragoon Guards at Derby on 19 July 1893 at the age of 22 (he exaggerated his age by three years). Confirming that he was serving member of the Militia unit – the 3rd Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters - he was a large chap some 5 feet 9 ½ inches in height weighing a slender 127 pounds and with a fresh complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. By way of distinctive marks he sported a small scar on his nose.

Having been declared Fit by the Doctor he started service with the Corps of Dragoons of the Line as a Private with no 4068. On 24 July 1895 he was transferred to the 1st Royal Dragoons. By this time he and his regiment had already been in India since the 13th March 1894 – a place where they were to be stationed until being transferred back home after exactly 3 years’ service on 14 March 1897.

Back in the United Kingdom Keen was appointed a paid Lance Corporal on 17 July 1898 but this was only a temporary measure as he reverted to the ranks on 5 June 1899. Little was he to know that, a mere three months later, in October 1899, he would be bound for South Africa and the Anglo Boer War which had broken out there between the two Boer Republics on the one hand and the might of the Empire on the other. Sailing for South Africa on 31 October 1899 aboard the S.S. “Manchester” from Portsmouth the Royal dragoons were given ring-side seats to the conflict.

Arriving at Durban about the 26th, they performed excellent service during the operations for the relief of Ladysmith and were also present at Colenso on the 15th December but were not heavily engaged.

When the turning movement by the west was attempted the regiment was in the Mounted Brigade under Lord Dundonald, along with the 13th Hussars, South African Light Horse, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, part of Bethune's Mounted Infantry, some regular Mounted Infantry, one squadron Imperial Light Horse, and one squadron Natal Carbineers. Much good work was done by the Mounted Brigade, particularly about 19th January 1900, when they captured about 40 Boers and seized important positions near Acton Homes.

When General Buller retired after Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz, Colonel Burn-Murdoch of the 1st Royal Dragoons was left in command at Springfield to protect Buller's left flank. His force consisted of the 1st Royal Dragoons, 13th Hussars, two squadrons of the 14th Hussars, two naval 12-pounders, A Battery RHA, and two battalions of infantry. On and after 22nd February most of these troops were brought down to Colenso to take part in the last great effort.

When Buller advanced north through the Transvaal Burn-Murdoch's brigade was left to watch the Natal border, and for a considerable time was employed about the south-east corner of the Transvaal. The brigade at that time comprised the 1st Royal Dragoons, 5th Dragoon Guards from the Ladysmith garrison, and 13th Hussars.

In May and June 1901 the regiment, along with the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, was in a column commanded by Colonel Pulteney which operated successfully in the Eastern Transvaal. In July Lord Basing, with the Royal Dragoons, two guns, and a pom-pom, was engaged covering the construction of the Frederickstad and Breedtsnek line of blockhouses, and in keeping up communication thence to General Barton's column west of Krugersdorp.

In consequence of a concentration of Boers in the south of the Orange River Colony, Lord Basing and his men were brought by rail to Springfontein in August 1901, and thence proceeded to operate in the south-east of that colony.

What the Boer War taught the Imperial forces was that the days of the cavalry charge were numbered. The 1st Royal Dragoons, although mounted had to swap their lances for rifles in order to be in any way effective as a fighting force. Keen, trained in the lance would have had to accustom himself to the fighting conditions in South Africa where the Boers powderless Mauser rifles and their fighting tactics made a horse charge redundant and, if undertaken, very costly in terms of manpower and animal losses.

On 5 December 1900 he was treated at 14 General Hospital in Newcastle, Natal for Neuralgia and, having been discharged to a hospital ship on 10 February 1901, was repatriated to – Unfit for active service. On 11 February 1901 the Doctor wrote,

“Has severe neuralgic pain in right leg, below knee extending downwards to the middle of the leg in front where the most painful point is and pain gravitates up to knee. There is no pain over muscular….”

Not destined to see out the end of the war in South Africa – after 1 year and 134 days of service in Natal, the Orange Free State and Transvaal he was shipped back to England where at Netley on 13 March 1901, he was admitted for Neuralgia – spending 16 days in hospital with the medical report reading that,

“Patient had neuralgia in right leg brought on by lying on the wet ground, is now quite well, treated by liniment and medicine. Recommended for Furlough.”

He recovered sufficiently to marry Kate Smith at St. John’s in Isleworth on 30 March 1902.

Keen was to remain as part of the Reserve until his final discharge on 18 April 1913 after a total of 19 years and 274 days of service on attaining the age of 42 years. His conduct was described as Good and his Habits Temperate.

Nothing more is known about his life thereafter save for the fact that he passed away in the town of his birth, Burton on Trent in 1947 at the age of 73.










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Another 1st Royal Dragoons man in Ladysmith 8 years 3 weeks ago #46046

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Very interesting account and excellent photos, Rory.
Dr David Biggins

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