George Arthur Keeley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Arthur Keeley was born in 1898 in Balderton and was the son of George Albert a maltsters labourer and Jane Keeley, née Johnson of 8 Zion Hill, Eldon Street, Newark. His father George Albert was born in 1875 in Diss, Norfolk and his mother Jane Johnson was born in 1871 at Balderton, they went on to marry in 1897 in Newark and had 9 children, two of whom sadly died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, George Arthur b1898 Balderton, Agnes Gertrude b1899 Balderton, Herbert Henry b1901 Balderton, John Sydney b1903 Balderton, Charles Frederick b1905 Newark, Annie Elizabeth b1908 Newark, Walter b1910 Newark and Doris Mabel b1912 Newark. In the 1911 census the family are living at 8 Zion Hill, Eldon Street, Newark and are shown as George 36 yrs a maltsters labourer , he is living with his wife Jane 40 yrs and their children Arthur 14 yrs an errand lad, Herbert 10 yrs a scholar, John 7 yrs a scholar, Charles 5 yrs and Walter 11 months.
Private George Arthur Keeley enlisted at Hucknall and served with the 16th battalion Sherwood Foresters. He was killed in action on 8th February 1918 and is buried in Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-le-Grand, Somme, France.
His father George Albert also served during the Great War, he enlisted at Newark on 18th January 1915 , he gave his age as 35 yrs (he was actually 40 yrs old ) and his address as 8 Zion Square, Eldon Street, Newark, he was a labourer. He served with the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters until 2nd June 1916 when he was discharged under King's Regulations 392 section 16, medically unit to serve. He had only served on the home front. Article published 9th March 1918 in the Newark Herald :- Eldest son of Mr & Mrs Keeley, 8 Zion Square, Eldon Street, Newark. A native of Newark and attended Christ Church School and the Baptist Sunday School. Afterwards he was in the employment of Madame Cooke for nearly four years, leaving there to go to Messrs. Cafferata’s as a stoker. From thence he went to the Raleigh Cycle Works at Nottingham, being engaged there until he was called up. Enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters at the end of April 1917. Was at Saltfleet for six weeks, when he came home for final leave , soon afterwards going out to France. Killed on the morning of the 8th by a shell.
