Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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4811   Private James McKeown
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 10/09/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 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.
Medal card
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.
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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Union Place, Dungannon Dungannon Central CWGC lists wife at Union Place 54.505312 -6.771401
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
20/03/1884 M McAlinden Elizabeth Parent M/1884/S1/2635/5/27b
20/03/1884 M McKeown Patrick Parent M/1884/S1/2635/5/27a
16/07/1886 B McKeown Mary Sibling U/1886/176/1021/23/412
07/10/1887 B McKeown Lizzie Sibling U/1887/176/1021/24/423
13/03/1890 B McKeown James Casualty U/1890/176/1021/26/416
09/02/1893 B McKeown John Sibling U/1893/176/1021/29/27
02/07/1895 B McKeown Henry Sibling U/1895/176/1021/30/479
18/03/1898 B McKeown Patrick Sibling U/1898/176/1021/33/93
01/12/1901 B McKeown Andrew Sibling U/1901/176/1021/36/189
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists McKeown family Lists James as age 11 living with the family at house 5 in River Lane, Portadown, County Armagh
2 1911 Census lists McKeown family Lists James as age 21 living with the family at house 79 in Obin Street, Portadown Urban, Armagh
3 FindAGrave.com Photo of Private James McKeown's gravestone
4 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
5 Portadown War Memorial Private James McKeown listed under Obins Street
6 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Private James McKeown's grave can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023