EDWARD CHARLES WILLIAM KEELEY

Born: 1912, Ipswich.

Died: 30th May 1940; age: 28; KiA covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk.

Residence: 32, Schreiber Road, Ipswich.

Rank: Guardsman; Service Number: 2612234.

Regiment: Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion – Foot Guards.

The body was buried in a collective grave with six other named men and eight unnamed men, all killed in action between the 29th – 31st May 1940, covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. On the 29th September 1947, the 15 bodies were exhumed and reburied in a collective grave at Veurne Communal Cemetery Extension.

Grave Reference:

Buried near this spot:

Sp. Mem. E.5.

Veurne Communal Cemetery Extension,

West-Vlaanderen,

Belgium.

Father: Charles William Keeley, born 1887, Brome, Suffolk.

Mother: Margaret (Maggie) Keeley (nee Jacobs), born 1893, Sproughton, Suffolk.

Stepsister: Irene Eva Keeley, born 23rd May 1917, Henley, Suffolk – mother, Margaret was a Housekeeper.

CENSUS

1921  Board of Guardians’ Children’s Home, Ivy Denes, Needham Market, Suffolk.

Edward was 9 years and 3 months old. He was a boarder and received an education. His stepsister was also in the care of the Children’s Home.

Irene Eva Keeley, 4 years & 1 month old.

In 1921, Edward’s father, Charles Keeley, lived with his partner and their two daughters at their family home – 22, Baker Street, Ipswich.

Charles Keeley, 33 years & 11 months old, a General Labourer for Ransome & Rapier, Stoke, Ipswich.

Tixie Emily Soames Keeley, 29 years & 9 months old, Home Duties, born Mendlesham, Suffolk.

Iris Tixie Soames Keeley, 7 years & 1 month old, at School, born Ipswich.

Joyce Soames Keeley, 2 years & 9 months old, born Ipswich.

Tixie Saomes and Charles Keeley were married in 1951, Ipswich.

Probate to Ivy Cobb (nee Rolfe) – wife of Cecil Cobb, of 32, Schreiber Road, Ipswich, and Ivy Pilbro – spinster, of 32, Mumford Road, Ipswich.

Grenadier Guards,

1st Battalion:
03 September 1939: The Battalion was based at Pirbright, Surrey, and part of the 7th Brigade.
September 1939: It became part of the BEF serving in France & Belgium. They were attached to 3rd Infantry Division.
June 1940: Evacuated from Dunkirk and returned to the UK.

A personal note: 

My late mum Vesta Strutt nee Mason knew Edward when she was in her 20s and spoke of him often with fondness over the years. She knew he had been killed during WW2 and that he had been engaged to a nurse although she didn’t know her name.

Mrs. Beverley Bowry