James Keay - remembered at Thiepval

When we called in to look up William Keay (our David's brother) at the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme, we also found the name James Keay engraved on another Face (actually 6D / 7D) of the Memorial.

The database has a photograph of young James, who died in November 1916, aged just 31. He was a Private in the Royal Scots. He was also remembered on the War Memorial of Tibbermore Parish Church.


He was born in Perth (~1884), son of Charles C. Keay (a general job Dyer) & Annie T. Keay of 8, Goodlyburn Terrace, Perth. James worked as a solicitor in Edinburgh, where he enlisted.

Charles & Annie's family are listed in the 1901 Tibbermore (Perth) Census for Goodlyburn Villas. Charles was seen as a General Job Dyer, born ~1862 in Perth. Annie was born in Aberdeen. James was seen there as a Law Apprentice, aged 16, and the other children were John (14); Charles (12); Robert (9); and Ann (6).

Additionally, I've seen the 1891 Census; in which they are living at 75 Glover St., Perth. Charles was working as a dyer and the couple had 3 sons (James was aged 6).

In 1881, I see the 19-year-old Charles Keay living at 64, Pomarium, Perth with his parents James & Margaret Keay. {Another post on this couple is here, but to cut to the chase they are also the parents of our John Keay (dyer of Perth)!}
Charles worked then as a Dyer.

Suse has confirmed that these are the right folks, and has let me know that James' younger brothers (John, Charles and Robert) emigrated away from Perth. She also pointed out that Charles Senior's wife was named Ann Thompson. They married in 1883.


{See the attached comment from Bill, for more details on the Tibbermore Roll of Honour.}
Here are a few photos which were sent to me by Bill, very kind of him.

The first is from the Tibbermore Roll of Honour (1914-1919), and we can see how each page was delicately decorated with thistles. Some portraits of the soldiers have been drawn, some were photographs.
 
The second is an earlier photograph of James Keay, taken in Edinburgh. (A strange cut-out image which I've not seen before in a photo from the period.)
 

Bill tells us that "James' brother Charles emigrated to Canada and was a successful banker. He came back to visit Scotland many times according to shipping lists. I visited his son and his family in Montreal". Sadly he has lost touch since.

Cousins Remembered
It can be shown then, that John Keay (father of our David, John & William who were lost in WW I) was a brother of the Dyer Charles Keay. This means that William Keay and James Keay were cousins who are both remembered on Thiepval Memorial, even to this day.

Of his military history, we know from the CWGC records that Private James Keay was in the Royal Scots. In 1916, he died at Serre - just North of Thiepval in Northern France.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I have a copy of the Tibbermore WW1 memorial book "Roll of Honour". I have sent scanned copies to the Tibbermore Church restoration people. If anyone else wants a copy, let me know.

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