| Rank | Lieutenant, Major, Captain |
| Unit # | 18th battalion CEF |
| Resident | Chatham |
Major, 18th Bn. CEF. Of Chatham, ON. Son of W. E. and M. A. McKeough, of 483, King St. West, Chatham, Ontario. Date of Birth: 2/09/1893. RG 150, Accession 1992/166, Box: 6987-8, Item: 157331, PDF:- B6987, SO08. Chatham, ON. A student at Univ. of Toronto. Single. Served in the 24th Kent Regt. for 6 years.
Attestation: William Stewart, McKeough 4 November, 1914. Age: 22 years, Height: 6’, Weight: 180 #, Girth: 42”. Physical Development: – Good, Vision:- R & L – Ok.
1914 – Nov.and Dec. 1915 – Jan. to Apr. Unit sailed 18/04/15. to the Theatre – France w/ 18th Bn.
31/03/16 Captain McKeough was on a 9 days leave to visit Scotland – he returned 7/04/16. He returned to service as Temporary Major “Whilst commanding a Company
Disembarked 15/09/15 with the 18th Bn. Disembarked in France 9/10/16 attached to the 3rd Regt. CMR, in the field and rejoined 3 CMR. He was a ‘Temporary Captain for Major C. E. Sale who had D of W. in the FIELD.
“Daily Casualty Sunnery” No. 747 dated 18/09/16. General Headquarters – British Army in France. Rouen, France. 21/09/1916. 20/09/1916 Captain to Major. Reported Major William Stewart McKeough was KIA 15/09/16.
Major KIA – Date of Death: 15/09/1916; Age: 23, Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry, 18th Bn.
Panel Reference ; VIMY MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais – France
Son of W. E. and M. A. McKeough, of 483, King St. West, Chatham, Ontario.
“in the fall of 1914 Stewart McKeough was appointed to the 18th Bn. and went overseas in April 1915. Reaching France in September he served through the autumn and winter on the front south of Ypres. He was promoted to Captain in January of 1916 and a temp. Major in July.
At St. Eloi he distinguished himself by his bravery in bringing in the wounded after the unsuccessful attack on ‘Crater 3’. On the morning of the battle of Courcelette his battalion, despite heavy casualties, took part in the capture of the Sugar Refinery and Major McKeough was killed in action as he reached the German parapet while leading his company in the attack
From the Diary of Mr. W.E. McKeough on page 748, Thursday 21 Sept.1916, he wrote: “This morning a telegram was handed to me at my office about two o’lock as follows:
It was a telegraph from Ottawa: Dated 20 Sept., 1916. To: W.E. McKeough, 483 King St., West. Chatham, ON.
“Deeply regret to inform you Captain William Stewart McKeough infantry. Officially reported Killed in Action 12 September, 1916.
“Oh GOD Why hast thou forsaken us ?
What father receiving such a message no father would want to receive? JRH
From Memorial Plaque; Christ Church (Anglican) Chatham, ON.
In Loving Memory
Major Wm. Stewart McKeough
18th Canadian Infantry Battalion. BEF.
Born in Chatham 2nd September, 1893.
Killed In Action
While leading his company in the advance
On Courcellette on the Somme, France, on
The Morning of the 15th September, 1916
“Great love hath no man than this, that a
Man lay down his life for his friend.
Transcribed by Garna Argenti. 4/03/2009
The Memorial Cross was received by Mrs. Mabel A. McKeough. Mr. W. E. McKeough received the Memorial Plaque: 2/02/21 and the Memorial Plaque: 17/01/22.
Also found at: – The Canadian Virtual War Memorial has a photo of W. S. McKeough. The inscription of his name on the Mimy Memorial A tribute from the U of T: Varsity Magazine-Fourth Edition 1918, The Students Admin. U of T., “Soldiers Tower Comm. Photo of young 1913 Track Team inter Collegiate Champions 1913, Torontoensis 1913 U of T. page 309 Honour Roll – U of T. published 1921.
CDP 22/10/14(P), 21/09/16, 27/09/19; BNT 27/09/16. CCM.
Of Chatham, ON. Son of W. E. and M. A. McKeough, of 371, King St. West, Chatham, Ontario.
From Memorial Plaque; Christ Church (Anglican) Chatham, ON.
In Loving Memory
Major Wm. Stewart McKeough
18th Canadian Infantry Battalion. BEF.
Born in Chatham 2nd September, 1893.
Killed In Action
While leading his company in the advance
On Courcellette on the Somme, France, on
The Morning of the 15th September, 1916
“Great love hath no man than this, that a
Man lay down his life for his friend.
Transcribed by Garna Argenti. 4/03/2009
In Honour and Memory of
Capt. Stewart McKeough,
Who Died in Defence Of His Mother-Land,
Somewhere in France, Sept. 15, 1916.
It was for you and I dear friends,
This Hero took a chance.
He sacrificed all life holds,
And died somewhere in France.
We used to see him on the street,
A man that all were pleased to meet.
During the hours of toil and leisure,
His whole life seemed a pleasure.
With all the boys he had the name,
Of being a sport in every game.
A really good fellow all the while,
Every word spelt with a smile.
But alas a day of deep thought came,
He was called to play a different game.
Indeed quite different to the rest,
One that calls for a manly breast.
Each day brought a deeper thought,
His duties were made clear,
With a heart and soul and all that is good,
He went as a volunteer.
His first drills were in Toronto,
After he left his home.
And when a few short months had passed,
He crossed the angry foam.
He was but a few days on the ocean,
Which he had never crossed before.
When at last old England was in sight,
And he landed safe on shore.
From the Mother-land, there came the command,
You boys must help the French.
They knew just what the order meant,
And soon were in the trench.
The Captain took his place, and had to face,
That terrible air of death.
The very thought that you might be caught,
Would take away your breath.
Alas the fatal hour came,
The voice of God called out his name.
And at the point of a German gun,
Great Britain lost a Hero son.
But God is just in his mercy,
His blessings never cease.
And he called Capt. McKeough, as he will call you,
To a home of eternal peace.
Edmund Eugene O’Connor.
Transcribed by: Garna Argenti
21 January 2019
This poem was found in the family bible of the late Col. Ralph West, by his wife Norma. Used with permission.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | Chatham Daily Planet (22-10-1914), Commonwealth War Grave Commission, Chatham Daily Planet (21-09-1916), Chatham Daily Planet (27-09-1919), Blenheim News Tribune (27-09-1916), BNT, CCM |
| Supplemental Information | Father: W. E. McKeough, Chatham Mother: Mrs. Mabel A. McKeough Brother: Lieut. G. Grant McKeough |
| Height | 6' |
| Weight | 180 lbs. lbs |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Age | 22 yrs. |
| Complexion | Fair |
| Hair | Brown |
| Race | White |
| Birthplace | Chatham ON |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Last Place of Employment | Third Year Medicine, Toronto University |
| Marital Status | single |
| When Enlisted | Oct. 1914 |
| Where Enlisted | London. On |
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