McKee Patrick Joseph
Second Lieutenant
3rd Battalion attached 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on 10 August 1917 (aged 28)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium (Panel 40)
Holywood and District War Memorial
Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) War Memorial
Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) Book of Remembrance
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
The death of Second Lieutenant Patrick Joseph McKee was reported in the 25 August 1917 edition of the Newtownards Chronicle under the headline Holywood Officer Killed. The report stated that both of his parents were dead and that he had been gazetted from a cadet to the Royal Irish Rifles on 22 November 1916. Prior to the Great War he lived at 49 Trevor Street, Holywood and he was a member of Malone Rugby Club.
Patrick Joseph McKee joined the Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) Officers’ Training Corps (OTC) on 1 November 1915 and in the QUB Book of Remembrance his date of birth is recorded as 1 November 1889.
Patrick Joseph McKee was born on 1 November 1888 at 59 Castle Street, Belfast and he was a son of James and Ellen (Nellie) McKee (nee Morrell) who were married on 1 November 1887 in St Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church Belfast. James McKee was a son of Patrick and Margaret McKee. Ellen Morrell was a daughter of Thomas and Ellen Morrell, both of whom were deceased.
Patrick Joseph McKee was baptised in St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Belfast. James McKee worked as a flesher (butcher) and he and Ellen had three children:
James (born prematurely 15 December 1887 at 59 Castle Street, Belfast; died 17 December 1887)
Patrick Joseph (born 1 November 1888 at 59 Castle Street, Belfast)
Rose Anne (born 30 June 1895 at 69 Corporation Street, Belfast; died of convulsions 4 March 1896 at 29 New Andrew Street, Belfast).
Patrick Joseph McKee was educated at St Mary’s Intermediate School, Belfast, Belfast Mercantile College, and King’s College, London
In 1901 James and Patrick McKee were living with James’ parents, Patrick (a Customs and Excise pensioner) and Eleanor McKee at 107 Falls Road, Belfast.
Patrick McKee died of heart disease on 26 April 1910 at 107 Falls Road, Belfast.
In 1911 James and Ellen McKee (nee Morrell) were living at 116 Nelson Street, Belfast.
The casualty’s mother, Ellen McKee (nee Morrell) from 96 Nelson Street Belfast died of Bright’s disease in the City Hospital on 21 December 1911 (aged 37). Her nephew, James Morrell, was with her when she died.
The casualty’s father, James McKee died in Belfast Workhouse on 21 November 1915 (aged 50) and was buried in Belfast City Cemetery (Public Ground).
The casualty’s grandmother, Eleanor McKee died of cancer at 49 Trevor Street, Holywood on 10 August 1918 (aged 87). Her niece, Lily Savage, was with her when she died.
Second Lieutenant Patrick Joseph McKee was posted to the Front early in 1917 and he was killed in action on 10 August 1917 during an attack on Westhoek Ridge. A great many soldiers died that day. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.