Robert Frederick Keetley

Robert Frederick Keetley was born in 1895 in Nottingham and was the son of James a chartered accountant and Ada Louisa Keetley née Smith, of 36, Villiers Rd., Woodthorpe, Nottingham His father James was born in 1870 in Nottingham and his mother Ada Louisa was born in 1868 in London. They were married in 1893 their marriage was recorded in the West Ham Registration district. They went on to have four children all of whom were born in Nottingham, Stanley James b1894, Robert Frederick b1896, Leslie b1899 and Francis b1904. In the 1911 census the family are living at 45 Caledon Road, Nottingham, and are shown as James 41 yrs a chartered accountant, he is living with his wife Ada Louisa 43 yrs and their children , Stanley James 16 yrs an insurance clerk, Robert Frederick 15 yrs a scholar, Leslie 12 yrs a scholar and Francis 7 yrs a scholar. At the time of Robert's death the family's address was 30 Forest Road West, in the parish of All Saints, Raleigh Street.

He attended High Pavement School. He was a Wesleyan Methodist and, like his brother, commemorated on a Methodist memorial (church unknown) now in Lenton Methodist Church.

enlisted Nottingham

Lance Corporal Robert Frederick Keetley, enlisted at Nottingham, he initially served with service number 17486 in the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment, later transferring to the 10th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment (Grimsby Chums). He was killed in action on 27th November 1916 and is buried in Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier (grave ref IV.C.28).

His brother, 764 Private Stanley James Keetley, 10th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment, formerly 17491 Notts & Derby Regiment, was killed 28/4/1917. Personal inscription CWGC headstone: 'Words cannot express our love our pride our sorrow' Article published 6th December 1916 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- Nottingham Soldier Killed by a Shell While in a Dug-out. “Mr. J. Keetley, of 30, Forest-road West, Nottingham, a partner in the firm of Messrs. Mellors, Basden, and Mellors, chartered accountants, has received a letter stating that his second son, Robert Frederick Keetley, was killed in action in France on November 27th last, having only just returned from [a] short leave at home. The deceased was a most successful scholar at the High-pavement Secondary School, and had been engaged as a pupil at the Jacoby Bleaching Co., Daybrook, for a short period prior to the outbreak of war. He joined the City Battalion in September, 1914, and was eventually drafted to the 10th (Service) Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. He took part in the advance on July 1st, in which action he was wounded. His captain writes stating that Private Keetley was killed by the bursting of a shell whilst sheltering in a dug-out, and that his two companions were wounded. He says the whole regiment join in expressing their deep sympathy.” Nottingham Post notice (abridged) 10 May 1917: KEETLEY killed in action April 28 1917, Stanley J Keetley Lincolnshire Regiment, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J Keetley, 30 Forest Road West, age 22. His brother, Rob, gave his life last November. In memoriam published 27th November 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “KEETLEY. – In proud and loving memory of our dear son, Robert Frederick Keetley, lance-corporal, Lincoln Regiment, killed in action in France November 27th, 1916.” Above article and notices are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Personal details from All Saints Church News, January 1917 (Nottinghamshire Archives)