McKeown, Arthur James (Arthur)
Sapper
No. 41043, 63rd Field Company, Royal Engineers
Killed in action on Friday 5 November 1915 (aged 35)
Buried:
Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Belgium (Transport Farm) (Grave I. D. 4)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Sapper Arthur McKeown (No. 41043) was born in Newtownards and enlisted in Belfast.
In the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects, it is recorded that his widow Annie was his sole legatee.
Arthur James McKeown was born on 7 October 1880 in Newtownards Workhouse and he was a son of Arthur and Catherine Mary McKeown (nee McFall). His father was in America at the time of his birth. Arthur McKeown and Catherine McFall were married on 19 January 1878 in St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Belfast.
The McKeown family lived in Belgrade Street, Smithfield, Belfast and Arthur James’s siblings were born in Belfast.
Arthur McKeown worked as a foundry labourer and he and Catherine Mary McKeown (nee McFall) had at least seven children:
Catherine Theresa (born 14 November 1878 at 12 Irvine Street, Belfast)
Arthur James (born 7 October 1880 in Newtownards Workhouse; his father was in America at the time of his birth)
Bernard (born around 1881/1882 in Belfast)
Mary Jane (born around 1889/1890 in Belfast)
Daniel (born 27 November 1891 at 5 Belgrade Street, Belfast)
Samuel John (born around 1893/1884 in Belfast)
Rose Ann (born around 1895/1896 in Belfast)
Arthur James McKeown worked as an iron moulder and he and Annie Shufflebottom were married on 3 October 1904 in Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church Ardoyne, Belfast. Annie Shufflebottom was born in Liverpool and she was a daughter of Charles (a blacksmith) and Mary Shufflebottom.
Arthur James and Annie McKeown (nee Shufflebottom had six children:
Mary Catherine (born 10 December 1905 at 1 Belgrade Street, Belfast)
Theresa (born 17 June 1907 at 1 Belgrade Street, Belfast)
Daniel (born 13 October 1908 at 41 Herbert Street, Belfast)
Annie (born 23 March 1911 at 41 Herbert Street, Belfast)
Arthur (born 1 June 1913 at 56 Hooker Street, Belfast)
Rose Ann (born 20 July 1915 at 13 Currie Street, Belfast)
Sapper Arthur McKeown (No. 41043) served with the 63rd Field Company Royal Engineers and he was 35 when he was killed in action at Passchendaele on 5 November 1915. He was buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), Belgium.