Horace Keeton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Thomas Henry Keeton married Eliza Martha Russon in 1894. They had 4 children up to the 1901 census, Ronald born 1896 in Worksop, Sidney born 1897 High Green, Yorks, Horace born 1898 Worksop and Clement born 1900 in Worksop. By 1901 they were resident in Shireoaks, Worksop where they had another child, Lawrence. In 1902 the whole family emigrated arriving at Quebec, Canada on the 11 May sailing on the ‘Pretorian’ leaving from Liverpool. They crossed the border into the USA and became residents of Niagara in the state of New York. 2 more children were born here in 1905, Hubert and in 1907, Lilly, the only girl in the family. In the same year, Thomas Henry Keeton of Niagara County, New York, died in 1907 and was buried in Oakwood cemetery. The now widowed Eliza was still in the U.S. in 1910 but by 1914, the family had moved to 112 Kenilworth Ave, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
On Sept 23rd 1914, Horace Keeton and his brother, Sydney were attested to join the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. Their next of kin was recorded as Eliza Keeton of 112 Kenilworth Ave, Hamilton, Ontario. Horace claimed he was born 1st Mar 1896, making him some 2 years older. He was actually only 16 and supplied with his regimental number 29619 of the Canadian infantry 6 Bn. Other Keeton’s born in Worksop also were attested, Edgar, Joseph and Albert William, (also killed) all brothers to Horace’s deceased father, Thomas Henry Keeton, indicating that more of the family emigrated to Canada. Another son of Eliza’s, Clement also attempted to join later in 1917, but a comment on his attesting form, as to his underage possibly thwarted his attempt. After his training, Horace went to the Western Front and 7 months after enlistment, was killed in action in the trenches South West of Gravenstafel and was commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Pte Horace Keeton Worksop Guardian 7 May 1915 Pte Horace Keeton, of the Canadian Scottish Regiment, a grandson of Mr T Keeton, Bridge Place, Worksop, has been killed in action. His two brothers were also wounded in the same action, which took place on April 22nd.
Research by Colin Dannatt
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