PRIVATE W.G.R. KEABLE, 2ND WILTSHIRE REGIMENT, TAKEN PRISONER OF WAR AT REITFONTEIN 25/1/1

PRIVATE W.G.R. KEABLE, 2ND WILTSHIRE REGIMENT, TAKEN PRISONER OF WAR AT REITFONTEIN 25/1/1900. Queen’s South Africa Medal, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (officially impressed: 5221 Pte. W.G.R. KEABLE. 2nd WILTS: REGt.). Good Very Fine.

Medal accompanied by 46 pages of copied service papers covering Keable’s wide ranging service career, including both the Boer War and WW1, copied extract from Boer War casualty roll, WW1 Medal Index card, extracts from 1891 and 1911 census returns

Private Keable was taken prisoner of war when the 2nd Wiltshires were involved in a reconaissance north of Colesberg to Reitfontein on 25/1/1900, designed to establish the position of the retreating Boer forces. The Boer forces and the 2nd Wiltshires clashed and during the brief action that ensued the 2nd Wiltshires lost 11 other ranks wounded and 2 officers and 11 other ranks taken prisoner of war.

William George Robert Keable was born in Camberwell, Surrey. He enlisted into the Wiltshire Regiment on 6/1/1899 and was posted for service with the 2nd Battalion on 15/4/1899. On 17/2/1908 Keable transferred to the Indian Army Unattached List, Corps of Military Staff Clerks, promoted Sergeant and stationed at the Abbottabad Brigade Office. He transferred to the 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment on 10/9/1909 and was discharged with the rank of Sergeant on 22/4/1911. Keable was mobilised on 5/8/1914, following the outbreak of WW1 and posted for service with the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment on 6/8/1914 and saw active service in France with the East Surreys from 1/6/1915. He transferred to the Royal Engineers on 18/11/1917, seeing service with the Royal Engineers in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, but was invalided on 25/7/1918. Keable was eventually discharged “no longer physically fit for war service” on 9/8/1920, after total service of 21 years and 295 days with the colours. Keable is recorded in the 1891 census as an 11 year old student resident in Peckham, London, and in the 1911 census as a 32 year old Sergeant aboard the troop ship “Rewa”.

Recipient also entitled King’s South Africa Medal with 2 clasps and 1914-15 Star trio.