McKeown, Charles
Rifleman
No. 11395, 6th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Sunday 30 December 1917
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Chatby Memorial, Egypt
Newtownards and District War Memorial
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for
Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Charles McKeown was born in Newtownards and enlisted in Belfast.
It was reported in the 23 February 1918 edition of the Newtownards Chronicle that Rifleman Charles McKeown (No. 11395) was ‘missing believed drowned’.
Rifleman Charles McKeown (No. 11395) was lost at sea when the troopship, HMT Aragon (built in Belfast) was torpedoed off the coast of Egypt by the German submarine UC-34.
In the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects, Rifleman Charles McKeown’s sole legatee was his mother, Elizabeth McKeown.
Rifleman Charles McKeown is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards.
Charles McKeown was born on 20 October 1893 in Mill Street, Newtownards and he was a son of William and Elizabeth (Lizzie) McKeown (nee McGuiness) who were married on 4 June 1886 in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards. William McKeown from Newtownards was a son of Hugh McKeown, a labourer. Elizabeth McGuiness from Newtownards was a daughter of Hamilton McGuiness, a weaver.
The McKeown family lived in Newtownards, in South Street and Mill Street.
William McKeown worked as a labourer and carter and he and Elizabeth had at least six children including:
William John (born around 1887/1888)
James (born around 1891/1892)
Charles (born 20 October 1893 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Ellen (born around 1901/1902)
Before the outbreak of the Great War Charles McKeown worked as a labourer.