Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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25705   Private Robert McKeown
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 11/09/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 08/05/1897
Died: 25/06/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age: 20
Summary      
Robert McKeown was the son of William and Isabella McKeown (nee Allen). He was born on 8th May 1897 in Garvaghy, Errigal, Ballygawley, County. Tyrone. He was one of eleven surviving children, all born in the Ballygawley. Private Robert McKeown was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France on 25th June 1917.
Private Robert McKeown
Further Information
Robert McKeown was the son of William and Isabella McKeown (nee Allen).
Robert McKeown was born on 8th May 1897 in Garvaghy, Errigal, Ballygawley, County. Tyrone. He was one of eleven surviving children, all born in the Ballygawley.
The 1901 census records Robert as 4 years old. His father was a farmer. The family lived in Garvaghy, Errigal, Tyrone.
Known family: William McKeown, Isabella McKeown, William McKeown (born 27th December 1887), Joseph McKeown (born 18th August 1889), Thomas McKeown (born 15th June 1891), Alexander McKeown (born 12th May 1893), Francis McKeown (born 1st May 1895), Robert McKeown (born 8th May 1897), Sarah McKeown (born 13th May 1899), Isabella McKeown (born 23rd April 1901), Stewart McKeown (born 11th March 1903), George McKeown (born 12th January 1905), Charlotte McKeown (born 1st February 1907), Samuel McKeown (born 13th January 1910).
The 1911 census lists the large family erroneously as the ‘Keown’ family. Robert was now 14. He had left school and was working on his father’s farm. The family still lived in Garvaghy, Errigal, Tyrone.
Robert McKeown enlisted in Omagh with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was living in Garvaghy.
Medal card
Private Robert McKeown was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France on 25th June 1917.
Robert’s older brother, Thomas McKeown, also died in the war. Thomas died seven weeks later on 16th August 1917.
Private Robert McKeown's gravestone
Private Robert McKeown is buried in Somer Farm Cemetery near Ypres in Belgium.
The CWGC record Private Robert McKeown as the son of William McKeown of Garvaghey, Ballygawley, County Tyrone.
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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Garvaghy, Errigal Ballygawley Census listing in Garvaghy, Errigal 54.484500 -7.136679
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
27/12/1887 B McKeown William Sibling U/1887/102/1026/7/140 Allen
18/08/1889 B McKeown Joseph Sibling U/1889/102/1026/7/295 Allen
15/06/1891 B McKeown Thomas Sibling U/1891/102/1026/7/435 Allen
12/05/1893 B McKeown Alexander Sibling U/1893/102/1026/8/85 Allen
01/05/1895 B McKeown Francis Sibling U/1895/102/1026/8/251 Allen
08/05/1897 B McKeown Robert Casualty U/1897/102/1026/8/418 Allen
13/05/1899 B McKeown Sarah Sibling U/1899/102/1026/9/71 Allen
23/04/1901 B McKeown Isabella Sibling U/1901/102/1026/9/216 Allen
11/03/1903 B McKeown Stewart Sibling U/1903/102/1026/9/326 Allen
12/01/1905 B McKeown George Sibling U/1905/102/1026/9/446 Allen
01/02/1907 B McKeown Charlotte Sibling U/1907/102/1026/10/72 Allen
13/01/1910 B McKeown Samuel Sibling U/1910/102/1026/10/284 Allen
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists McKeown Family Lists Robert as age 4, living with the family at house 49 in Garvaghy, Errigal, Tyrone
2 1911 Census lists 'Keown' Family Lists Robert as age 14, living with the family at house 51 in Garvaghy, Errigal, Tyrone
3 Brother - Thomas McKeown Brother of Robert McKeown, who also died in the World War One
4 FindAGrave.com Photo of Robert McKeown's gravestone
5 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
6 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Robert McKeown's gravestone can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023