John George (Jack) Keenan
From Our Contribution
 Western Mail 29 Jun 1917 page 19. | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 30 Apr 1900 |
| Place of Birth | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Death | 8 May 1964, aged 65 |
| Place of Death | Maddington, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years old (?) |
| Description |
5'7" (1.m) tall ; 125 lbs 56.699 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Timber worker |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Albany road, Maddington, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr George Frank Keenan |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2815 |
| Date of Enlistment | 17 Jan 1917 |
| Rank | Trooper |
| Unit/Formation |
WA March 1917 Reinforcement transferred to 1st Battalion Camel Corps then 14th Light Horse Regiment / Imperial Camel Corps |
| Date of Embarkation | 22 May 1917 ‒ 20 Jun 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A42 Boorara Fremantle to Suez |
| Date of Return | 29 Apr 1919 ‒ 29 May 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Dorset |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
In 1917 his father was residing at Whittaker's Mill
War Service
Two months after entering Claremont camp on 7 Mar 1917, Jack was allocated to the Light Horse reinforcements as a Trooper. A further two months later on 22 May, John travelled to Egypt where on arrival he was sent to isolation camp for a period before being taken on strength by the Anzac reserve at Moascar.
Jack later transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps at Abbassia on 31 Jul 1917. On 23 Aug 1917 he was allocated to No 3 Company, 1st Battalion, Camel Corps at El Kuhri.
Jack suffered an injury to his fingers, and was admitted to the Government Hospital at Suez on 22 Sep 1917, remaining in care until 10 Oct 1917 when he rejoined his unit.
As a result of a reorganisation of forces in Egypt as the conflict moved from the sands of the Sinai to the rocky grounds of Palestine, the Camel Corps was disbanded, and on 1 Jul 1918 Jack was transferred to the 14th Light Horse Regiment. On 23 Jul 1918 he was admitted to the 6th Field Ambulance with pyrexia, rejoining his unit on 31 Jul 1918. Ill again on 4 Nov 1918, this time with influenza, Jack was hospitalised in Homs for three days.
On 19 Jan 1919 he was hospitalised again, this time with malaria, and was treated in hospital at Abbassia before being released to duty at Ghezireh. From 8 Apr until 19 Apr 1919 he was treated by the 14th Australian General Hospital for malaria, prior to embarking for Australia in Port Said on 29 Apr 1919. Discharged by 5th Military District on 25 Sep 1919.
Post War
In Maddington during 1922 Jack married Violet Maud Dalziell. Their daughter Iris was born in 1927. Violet died 21 May 1991, aged 90 in Bayswater.
Jack set up in business with Alexander Francis MacFarlane as storekeepers in Maddington, but they seem to have had financial problems. John must have resolved them as he ran a grocery shop until 1958 or later apart from his service during WW2. During WW2 Jack served as a Lieutenant from 26 Mar 1942 until 31 Jan 1945 with the 2nd West Australian Volunteer Defence Corps, Regimental No. W67880.
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1958 Maddington, grocer. From 31 Dec 1920 they traded as McFarlane & Keenan
Notes
Not currently included on Jarrahdale Honour Roll.