Keane, Patrick James
5386 Private Patrick James Keane - 28th Battalion AIF
Patrick James Keane was born in Fremantle WA on the 17th March 1897 to Patrick and Margaret Keane. He only had the one sibling in a sister called Margaret as sadly his mother died in 1899 and his father in 1904.
It appears that young Patrick and Margaret were then brought up by their Uncle John Francis Whitely.
Patrick was educated locally and after leaving school he found employment as a steward. During this time he also served with the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces. Patrick was living with the Whitely family at 24 Malcolm Street Fremantle when he enlisted.
On the 18th February 1916 Patrick went to Perth to enlist into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording Patrick's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 9 inches tall;
Weight - 130lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-25 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Dark Brown.
After his successful enlistment Patrick was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the Depot training company. He had three weeks in this training unit, being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 27th March 1916 Patrick was assigned to the 14th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF.
He trained with this group in WA for the next four months. On the 9th August 1916 Patrick and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Miltiades. They then set sail for England and after the long sea voyage they arrived at Plymouth Harbour on the 25th September 1916.
After being disembarked Patrick and his group were sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He would train in England for the next few months as it wasn't until the 16th November 1916 that Patrick left for France. After arriving at Etaples he was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot Camp. He spent a few more weeks here and was then taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 4th December 1916.
When he joined his unit, the 28th Battalion were then situated on the Somme battlefield in the vicinity of Flers. The 28th Battalion would remain in this sector until March 1917.
The cold winter months had an effect on Patrick as on the 11th March 1917 he was evacuated ill. He was sent to the 6th Field Ambulance and was diagnosed with rheumatism. He was then sent on to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearance Station. After more treatment Patrick was sent to the French town of Rouen, where he was admitted to No.8 General Hospital. He remained there until the 13th April when he was transferred to No.2 Convalescent Depot camp.
On the 21st April 1917 Patrick was transferred to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot where he spent several days before rejoining the 28th battalion on the 2nd May 1917. Patrick had rejoined his unit in time for the Battalion's action at Bullecourt. The 5th & 6th Brigades of the AIF had captured a section of the German trench at Bullecourt and the 28th Battalion was one of the units that came in to try and expand the gains already made, while also holding on to what had been captured. There was much hand to hand fighting when the 28th Battalion was in the Bullecourt trenches, but Patrick came through his time there safely.
After the Bullecourt action, the 2nd Australian Division, which included the 28th Battalion, was given a three month rest period out of the line. During the period of June to August 1917 much training and sporting activities took place.
However during this time Patrick got into trouble, firstly on the 17th June 1917, when he was charged with, 'failing to comply with an order given by a superior officer' As a punishment he had to undergo 21 days of Field Punishment No.2.
On the 30th July 1917, Patrick went absent from a battalion parade, and as a punishment had to undergo eight days of field punishment no.2 and was also fined seven days pay.
On the 28th August 1917, Patrick was insolent to a N.C.O. and was subsequently given seven days of Field Punishment No.2.
The 28th Battalion's rest period out of the line was now coming to an end and in September they moved up to Ypres where they would soon take place in several actions.
On the 20th September 1917 the 28th Battalion was in action at the Battle of Menin Road. They secured their objectives successfully and a fortnight later on October 4th they served at the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge. Patrick came through both actions safely and the 28th Battalion then continued to hold the newly captured areas around Zonnebeke and Broodseinde Ridge.
On the 25th October 1917 Patrick absented himself from his unit for two days and was later punished with seven days of Field Punishment No.2. However it appears he may have been sick as on the 29th October he was evacuated and diagnosed with kidney stones. He was sent to the 10th General Hospital at Rouen. Patrick returned to his unit on the 9th December 1917.
The 28th Battalion spent the 1917/18 winter in the line in Belgium. They were holding portions of the front line between Ypres and Messines up to March 1918.
As a result of the Germans offensive of March 21st 1918 which broke through the British front line further south, the Australian divisions in Belgium were sent south to the Somme to help stop this German advance.
The 28th battalion went to the Ville-sur-Ancre and Morlancourt sectors and were in action here from April to June 1918. The 28th Battalion then moved to the Villers Bretonneux sector.
On the 5th July 1918 Patrick was evacuated to hospital ill and only rejoined his unit on the 3rd September 1918. Three days later he was sent to England for two weeks leave. He was supposed to return to his unit by the 25th September 1918 but Patrick took more unofficial leave and only reported to the AIF HQ in London on the 3rd October 1918. As a punishment Patrick was given 20 days of field punishment No.2 and had to forfeit 32 days pay.
On the 8th October 1918 Patrick returned to France and rejoined the 28th Battalion. The 28th battalion had fought their last action in the war the week previously and were now out of the front line. The Armistice was signed before the 28th Battalion returned to action.
After the German surrender the Australians were sent to what had been German occupied parts of Belgium. The 28th Battalion were based near Charleroi for the next few months. Patrick remained in Belgium until the 28th were disbanded in May 1919.
On the 27th May 1919 he returned to England and waited until he was assigned a berth on a transport ship home. On the 12th July 1919 Patrick boarded the transport ship City of Exeter and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 17th August 1919.
Patrick was discharged from the AIF on the 1st October 1919.
He then returned home to East Fremantle and soon found work as an insurance agent. He was living at 150 Glyde Street (now 80 Glyde). insurance agent
Patrick worked as an insurance agent through the 1920's and 30's.
In 1934 he married Dorothy Spry and a daughter Margaret was born in 1934 and a son Patrick in 1936 and the family continued to reside in Glyde Street. Prior to World War Two Patrick was working as a storeman.
When World War Two commenced Patrick was an early enlistee, signing up on the 15th May 1940. He was given the regimental number WX2718.
Patrick was then assigned to the 2/2 Forestry Company.
This Company, which was part of the Royal Australian Engineers, was filled by timber workers and other specialists from Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.
On the 31st May 1940 Patrick embarked from Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship Stratheden and set sail for England.
After arriving in Liverpool England in July 1940 they were sent to Hampshire where they were to be utilised as infantry in case the Germans invaded England. However in September 1940 they moved north to Durham to operate a sawmill and from then they proceeded north to Scotland where they operated for the next few years.
In April 1941 Patrick injured his toe while working and after medical treatment had to rest up for a bit. He was then sent on a cookery course through May and June 1941. Patrick may have used his new skills to be a cook for his unit.
In January 1942 Patrick was hospitalised due to tonsilitis but was back with the Forestry Company by March 1942.
Patrick and the Australian Forestry Group returned to Australia via the United States in 1943. The Australian soldiers were given the unique honour of marching in a ticker-tape parade, with fixed bayonets, down Broadway in New York on 1 October 1943, said to be the only occasion that armed foreign troops had marched through an American city since their Independence.
For a more detailed look at the Forestry Companies in World War Two see https://pickeringbrookheritagegroup.com.au/soldiers/2-2nd-forestry-company-r-a-e/
In November 1943 Patrick and the 2/2 Forestry Company landed at Brisbane. On his return to Australia Patrick was Given some home leave so was able to return to WA. He then went to NSW where he joined up with a section of the 2/2 Forestry Company.
Through 1944 and 1945 Patrick served with other units of the Royal Australian Engineers in Victoria and was promoted to Corporal. He returned to WA in August 1945. Patrick was discharged from the Army on the 19th September 1945.
On his return from the war Patrick returned to the family home at 80 Glyde Street East Fremantle. He soon found employment as a clerk.
Patrick lived at 80 Glyde Street up till the 1980's.
Patrick died on 8th September 1989 in Holland St Fremantle aged 92. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.