KEELY, Urvan Michael
| Service Numbers: | 8809, 2700 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1915, 6th Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 5th Divisional Train |
| Born: | Fullarton, South Australia, 12 August 1886 |
| Home Town: | Glenside, Burnside, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers College, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Carter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 29 September 1918, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
Tincourt New British Cemetery Plot V, Row G, Grave No. 10, Tincourt New British Cemetery, Tincourt, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Myrtle Bank War Memorial, Rose Park Burnside & District - Fallen Soldiers Memorial Trees - Rose Park, Rose Park Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial - Rose Park |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 8809, 27th Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2700, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 20th Army Service Corps | |
| 25 Jul 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 29th Australian Army Service Corps | |
| 26 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 8809, 5th Divisional Train, "The Last Hundred Days" |
Help us honour Urvan Michael KEELY's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Heather Ernszt
Son of John KEELY and Elizabeth Agnes TURVER or TURNER
Known as "Tom"
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
KEELY Urvan Michael (1886-1918)
Also recorded (per the Embarkation Roll) as Vivian Michael KEELY; as dates of birth are identical and no service record exists for the latter name, it is assumed his unusual given name was mis-recorded at Embarkation; a not uncommon clerical error. Similarly his brother's name is incorrectly spelt Keeley and his actual given name (Austin) ommitted from the roll.
Known to everyone as Tom, Urvan Michael was the son of John Keely and his wife Agnes, of L'Estrange St Knoxville ( a now redundant suburb name, supplanted by Frewville). He was an older brother to Austin (aka John) KEELY, who was a farrier (shoer of horses) and horse-breaker.
Tom was working as a carter (ie a haulage operator, using a horse and cart) when he enlisted into the AIF in August 1915. He was drafted to the 6th Reinforcements of the 27th Infantry Battalion, and embarked with them on 27 October 1915.
By the time they arrived in Egypt it was apparent that Gallipoli would soon be evacuated and the AIF would be re-deployed. At this point it is presumed that Tom's vocation as a driver came to the attention of the authorities, as plans for the expansion of the AIF and its attendant arms and services began to take shape. So it was that he transferred as a Driver to the 29th Company of Supply.
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