9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
08/05/1897
Died:
25/06/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
20
Summary
Robert McKeown was the son of William and Isabella McKeown (nee Allen). He was born on 8th May 1897 in Garvaghy, Errigal, Ballygawley, County. Tyrone. He was one of eleven surviving children, all born in the Ballygawley. Private Robert McKeown was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France on 25th June 1917.
Further Information
Robert McKeown was the son of William and Isabella McKeown (nee Allen).
Robert McKeown was born on 8th May 1897 in Garvaghy, Errigal, Ballygawley, County. Tyrone. He was one of eleven surviving children, all born in the Ballygawley.
The 1901 census records Robert as 4 years old. His father was a farmer. The family lived in Garvaghy, Errigal, Tyrone.
Known family: William McKeown, Isabella McKeown, William McKeown (born 27th December 1887), Joseph McKeown (born 18th August 1889), Thomas McKeown (born 15th June 1891), Alexander McKeown (born 12th May 1893), Francis McKeown (born 1st May 1895), Robert McKeown (born 8th May 1897), Sarah McKeown (born 13th May 1899), Isabella McKeown (born 23rd April 1901), Stewart McKeown (born 11th March 1903), George McKeown (born 12th January 1905), Charlotte McKeown (born 1st February 1907), Samuel McKeown (born 13th January 1910).
The 1911 census lists the large family erroneously as the ‘Keown’ family. Robert was now 14. He had left school and was working on his father’s farm. The family still lived in Garvaghy, Errigal, Tyrone.
Robert McKeown enlisted in Omagh with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was living in Garvaghy.
Private Robert McKeown was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France on 25th June 1917.
Robert’s older brother, Thomas McKeown, also died in the war. Thomas died seven weeks later on 16th August 1917.
Private Robert McKeown is buried in Somer Farm Cemetery near Ypres in Belgium.
The CWGC record Private Robert McKeown as the son of William McKeown of Garvaghey, Ballygawley, County Tyrone.
