5th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
13/03/1890
Died:
29/09/1918 (Killed in Action)
Age:
28
Summary
James McKeown was the eldest son of Patrick and Elizabeth McKeown. He was born on 13th March 1890. He was one of seven children, all born in Portadown..His family were a family of weavers. Private James McKeown was serving with the 5th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France & Flanders on 29th September 1918. The CWGC also record Private McKeown as the husband of Teresa McKeown, of Union Place, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. It is not clear if James McKeown ever lived in the Dungannon District.
Further Information
James McKeown was the eldest son of Patrick and Elizabeth McKeown. Patrick McKeown and Elizabeth McAlinden were married on 20th March 1884 in the district of Craigavon.
James McKeown was born on 13th March 1890. He was one of seven children, all born in Portadown.
Known family: Patrick McKeown, Lizzie McKeown, Mary McKeown (born 16th July 1886), Lizzie McKeown (born 7th October 1887), James McKeown (born 13th March 1890), John McKeown (born 9th February 1893), Henry McKeown (born 2nd July 1895), Patrick McKeown (born 18th March 1898), Andrew McKeown (born 1st December 1901).
The 1901 census lists James as age 11 living with the family at house 5 in River Lane, Portadown, County Armagh. James was still at school. His father Patrick was a linen weaver.
The 1911 census lists James as age 21 living with the family at house 79 in Obin Street, Portadown, County Armagh. James worked as a cambric weaver. Cambric was originally a kind of fine white plain-weave linen cloth made at or near Cambrai. All of the family worked as weavers.
James McKeown enlisted at Finner Camp.
Private James McKeown arrived in France with the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 7th November 1914.
Private James McKeown was serving with the 5th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France & Flanders on 29th September1918. He was 27 years old.
Private James McKeown is buried in Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery Extension. Sailly-Labourse is a village five kilometres south-east of Bethune.
Private James McKeown is commemorated locally on Portadown War Memorial, under Obin Street.
The CWGC record Private McKeown as the son of Patrick and Elizabeth McKeown of Obin Street, Portadown, County Armagh
The CWGC also record Private McKeown as the husband of Teresa McKeown of Union Place, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
It is not clear if James McKeown ever lived in the Dungannon District.
