| Regimental number | 3809 |
| Place of birth | Ormeau, Queensland |
| School | State School, Junction Park, Brisbane, Queensland; Christian Brothers, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Molonga Street, Graceville, Queensland |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 7.5" |
| Weight | 154 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs M E Keid, Chewton, Molonga Terrace, Graceville, Queensland |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 9th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/26/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A50 Itonus on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 49th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Mouquet Farm, Pozieres, France |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 23 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy. The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra. On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours. After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns. |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Charles George and Mary Elizabeth KEID, Molonga Terrace, Graceville, Brisbane |
| Family/military connections | Brothers: 1153 Sergeant Edward Alexander KEID, 9th Bn, died of wounds, 2 November 1917; 61 Pte Harold Guy Walker KEID, 13th Field Ambulance, returned to Australia, 15 March 1917; 1154 Pte Henry Charles KEID, 9th Bn, returned to Australia, 10 January 1918; 170 Pte William KEID, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, died of wounds, 23 June 1915; Lt Leonard KEID, 49th Bn, killed in action, 3 September 1916.~ |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Allotted to and proceeded to join 49th Bn, Zeitoun, 29 February 1916, and reverted to ranks from Acting Sergeant. Promoted Corporal, 1 March 1916. To School of Instruction, Serapeum, 12 April 1916; rejoined unit, 22 April 1916. Promoted Sergeant, 4 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 5 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 12 June 1916. Killed in action near Pozieres, 4 September 1916. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, KEID Bennett Walter |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
