Among the
guns - intimate letters from Ypres and the Somme
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Captain Philip
Russell Keightley
Royal Garrison Artillery |
Marble Tablet in Railway Street Presbyterian
Church erected in honour and grateful recognition of the
heroism and self-sacrifice of 134 men from this congregation
who went out from us to help in the Great War, 1914 to 1919.
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Close-up of the
names of 134 men from this congregation who went
out to help in the Great War. It includes the
names of Cpt. P. C. R. Keightly and Lieut. M. F.
Keightly (both names incorrectly spelt). |
A Select Vestry meeting in
Magheragall Parish Church in late 2005 investigating the
safety of gravestones uncovered an interesting history
connection with Sir Samuel Robert Keightley and his son,
Captain Philip Russell Keightley. The research work
was compiled by the Rector, the Rev Nicholas Dark, who made
contact with Maureen Rosenfield, (granddaughter of Sir
Samuel Keightley) and her son Charlie who live in America.
Sir Samuel
Keightley, LL.D.
Sir Samuel Keightley, LL.D.
Samuel Robert Keightley was
the elder son of Samuel Keightley and was born in Belfast on
13th January 1859. After attending a private school he went
to Queen’s College, Belfast, and read classics and law; and
was later a member of the first senate of Queen’s
University. He had already published a volume of poems
entitled ‘A King's Daughter’ before he was called to the
Irish Bar in 1883. Though at one time he had a considerable
practice, he continued his literary work and before the turn
of the century had published a number of novels with a
background of Irish history. He entered the political arena
as an Independent Unionist and contested South Antrim in
1903 but was not successful. In 1910 he contested South
Derry in the Liberal interest but again failed and
thereafter returned to his legal and academic work. He was
knighted in 1912.
The history of ‘Lisburn Golf Club 1905 - 2005’, records that
he was an office-bearer of the club in 1905-1906 and as Vice
President he attended the Inaugural General Meeting, which
was held on 1st May 1905, in the Temperance Institute.
He married in 1892 Gertrude
Emily, the youngest daughter of the late Henry Smith and
resided at Fort House, Lisburn where he also had his
barrister’s practice; and acquired Drum House, Drumbeg in
June 1918. Lady Keightley died in 1929 aged 65 having borne
him two sons and two daughters. In 1930, he married Anne,
widow of Colonel Vowell and died at Stradbally, County Leix,
Eire, at the age of 90.
Captain Philip Keightley
Sir Samuel and Lady
Keightley’s oldest son, Captain Philip Russell Keightley was
born in Lisburn on 24th January 1895. He served with the
Royal Garrison Artillery - 262nd Siege Battery for 3 years
in France, and died from pneumonia (possibly as a result of
exposure to poisonous gas) at Drum House, Drumbeg on 2nd
March 1919 aged 24 and is buried with his mother in grave
314, St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland graveyard, Drumbeg.
Lady Keightley was chairman of the Lisburn Board of
Guardians and laid the foundation stone for Brownlee Primary
School in 1913.
Their youngest son,
Lieutenant Maurice F. Keightley passed the qualifying exam
for the Indian army and on 27th June 1916 left for Quetta in
India for six months preliminary training as a cadet before
being commissioned. He survived the war.
Sir Samuel and Lady
Keightley’s two daughters were called Katherine and
Patricia. Katherine was married in Malone Parish Church on
12th September 1922 and moved to England. Her house in
London was destroyed in 1945 so what family heirlooms she
had, were mostly lost. Katherine died in 1985 and her
daughter Maureen Rosenfield and Maureen’s son Charlie, who
live in the USA, supplied much of the Keightley family
research. The only source material they have now is Sir
Samuel’s photo album and a few old documents dating back to
the time of his father (also called Samuel) who earlier in
his life spelt his name Keatly. Patricia married Brigadier
Norman Douglas Wingrove of 10th Gurkha Rifles. She died on
25th July 1992 and is buried with her mother Lady Keightley
and her brother Captain Philip Keightley.
War Memorials - Railway Street Presbyterian Church
Captain Philip Charles Russell Keightley and Lieutenant
Maurice F. Keightley, were two of the 134 men of Railway
Street congregation who served in the Great War. A memorial
tablet in Railway Street Presbyterian Church lists their
names as: Cpt. P. C. R. Keightly and Lieut. M. F. Keightly
(both names incorrectly spelt). A memorial window to
twenty-one men from Railway Street congregation, who fell in
the Great War, lists Philip R. Keightley (correctly spelt).
The inscription at the
bottom of the window is:
“Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of
Life.”
TO THE
GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE FROM
THIS
CONGREGATION WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR
Among the Guns
In 1920 Sir Samuel Keightley
published, ‘Among the Guns, Intimate Letters from Ypres and
the Somme’ written by his son Captain Philip Keightley. In the introduction the writer
explains that, “The fragmentary transcripts of a short yet
crowded life contained in this book were not meant for
publication. They were intended only for one beloved and
cherished correspondent. Written at odd moments and under
the most unfavourable conditions - in the trenches - in
midnight watches - in hospital - in the mess-room they
reflect the mind of the writer at the moment.” He
continues, “It contains all that made the war glorious and
heroic - the spring and source of our victories and final
triumph. The daily life in the firing line - the
patient endurance of our young men; their unconscious
heroism, their instinctive devotion to duty, their cheerful,
indomitable gaiety, and always their splendid courage in the
shadow of suffering, disaster, and death - this seems to me
almost the most wonderful thing in the mighty epic of the
war. On that life of patient work, suffering and
endurance is built the story, which will go down to future
generations - the grim stand at Ypres and the victorious
onrush at the Somme. It is a glimpse of that life
which is revealed in these pages”.
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The large War
Memorial window at the front left hand side of
Railway Street Presbyterian Church, which shows
the names of twenty-one men from this
congregation who laid down their lives in the
Great War.
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Close up of the
large Memorial Window in Railway Street
Presbyterian Church showing the names of
twenty-one men from this congregation who laid
down their lives in the Great War, including
that of Philip R. Keightley (correctly spelt). |
Grave 314, St.
Patrick’s Church of Ireland (beside Drum House)
- the burial place of Captain Philip Russell
Keightley R. G. A. who died on 2nd
March 1919. |
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Captain Keightley’s book online
Captain Philip Russell
Keightley’s book and some family photographs have been
scanned by Jim Collins and can be seen online at the
‘Books Section’ of www.lisburn.com.
This article was
compiled by John Kelly with the assistance of: The Rev
Nicholas Dark - Rector of Magheragall Parish Church; Pat
Geary - History Department, Friends’ School, Lisburn
(information from an article entitled ‘Lisburn’s dead from
the Great War 1914-1919’ on the Friends’ School Website);
James Victor Hamilton - a retired solicitor and grandson of
the late Very Rev Dr R W Hamilton, minister of Railway
Street Presbyterian Church, 1885-1935; Hugh Crookshanks -
Sexton of St. Patrick’s Church, Drumbeg; and Jim Collins -
webmaster and owner of
www.lisburn.com.
Hi Jim
Recently I heard from Anne in South Africa. She was
following up on the Keightley story. She sent me a notice
from the News Letter from August 1900, it was about the
death of Samuel Keightley Senior. He was father of Sir
Samuel of Fort Hill.
She found the site very helpful and she thinks that the
Keightley's in her family tree must be related to the
Keightley's on Lisburn dot com or why else would they have a
100 year old death notice of Samuel. So she going to try and
establish a link. I was able to put her in touch with the
American side of the family who gave us so much information.
Again thank you for such a very helpful site for so many
people
Nicholas Dark, Minister
Magheragall Parish Church
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Belfast
Newsletter 13th August 1900
Death of Mr Samuel Keightley, J.P.
Our obituary column
contains this morning the announcement of the
death of this esteemed citizen, which occurred
on Saturday last at his residence, Friedlands,
Fortwilliam Park. Mr Keightley had attained the
ripe age of 74 years, but in spite of this fact
he was able until recently to attend to his
accustomed duties. The deceased gentleman was
formerly a member of the Belfast Corporation and
he was also for some years member of the Belfast
City and District Water Commissioners in both of
which capacities he served the ratepayers
faithfully and well. Latterly, however, he had
retired from public life, and had contended
himself with the conduct of his business as a
merchant, which he carried on at his offices at
Elwood Avenue. He was a justice of the peace for
the city. Mr Keightley was for many years a
prominent member of St James Church, and he was
a staunch conservative, though he did not take
any active part in politics. He was a man of
kindly and genially disposition, and enjoyed the
esteem of a wide circle of friends and
acquaintances who will sincerely regret his
death. He leaves a widow and family to mourn his
loss. He leaves a widow and family to mourn his
loss. One of his sons Mr S. R. Keighley LL.D.
who lives at the Fort Lisburn is well known as a
barrister and as a novelist. The funeral we
understand will be strictly private.
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