Keiher, Edwin C (Lieut) WW1

[jim1]

Pity the poster doesn't feel the same.

[MaxD]

His wounding is recorded in the 116th Brigade diary on the 9th June 16 with the entry "One of our patrols encountered enemy patrol in No Mans Land and enemy were driven back to their trenches by our bombers".  Bit odd that his own 11th Battalion diary doesn't mention it and doesn't list him among the June wounded, it happens though.

maxD

[Julie King]

Thank you to all for the research - this has all been really interesting. Great to know some more info I will start to see if I can find any further information - time permitting.
Cant thank you all enough
Julie
 
The detail on the flask reads: Segt C May 11th Royal Sussex with ever
greateful thanks and appreciation for services rendered in 'No Man's Land' Cuinchy, France June 8th 1916 Edwin C Keiher, Lieut

[MaxD]

The name on the flask has seven digits and I read it as Keliher.

Flash to bang 13 months!

MaxD

[Julie King]

Just an update after a bit more research. My Great Grandfather was indeed one of the brave fellows who rescued E C Keliher from No Mans Land in Cuinchy France.
My grandson, who is a 15, is going to Ypres on a school trip in May and it jogged me into having another look at this story.
Thank you all for your help

[MaxD]

Your post prompted another look at this interesting story.

If your grandson hasn't seen it, he should see the Peter Jackson film "They shall not grow old" **.  It is being shown again on BBC2 at quarter past midnight tomorrow (Monday).

The place where the incident took place is about 30 miles south of Ypres so it may be that their itinerary won't allow a visit to that area.  Jim1 pinpointed the area just to the east of Cuinchy. The map and image at the link below shows the area.  The battalion took over the line of trenches (the blue line) running from the (now) Route Nationale north to the canal, now covered in woods, during the day on 8 May and it would have been quite normal for officers to lead patrols forwards during the night to check what was in front of them.
 
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=15&lat=50.5201&lon=2.7699&layers=101465011&right=BingHyb

Have you been able to access the brigade war diary which does record the wounding?

MaxD

**He got the title wrong, apparently deliberately, should be "They shall grow not old"

[JKELIHER]

Hi Julie
My son has just spotted this.
My grandfather, who was born in 1888 and died in 1970, was indeed Edwin Chappell Keliher. He later married Queenie Upson and their son was my father Patrick Keliher. They lived near Bexhill-on-Sea in Sussex.
I know little about my grandfather's exploits in WW1 but I do have a box of his medals from The Royal Sussex Regiment and I know he ended his army service as a captain. When he died he left me a shillelagh - I don't know why, but it may indicate (?) he went on to serve in Ireland to help suppress the Irish uprising.
MaxD states below that Edwin transferred to the Army Printing and Stationery Service which makes sense as he joined his father's family printing business which was successful until it hit hard times in about 1955 and was taken over.
I never heard of the name Christopher May - what a shame but it sounds as if he saved Edwin's life. So 103 years later, he gets my profound thanks.
If you see this do please get in touch. I live in Somerset/Devon
All the best and Happy Christmas
James Keliher

[Kiltaglassan]

Welcome to RootsChat, James 

If you make at least one more post (just say Hi etc), you can use the Personal Message (PM) system for the exchange of personal data, such as e-mail, with Julie.

Have a look at https://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php

KG

[JKELIHER]

Many thanks!