Description
1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medal, Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, GV, J2667 Sailmaker Ernest George Keech, Royal Navy, who served from the age of 15 in 1913 through World War 2.
1915 Star officially impressed: “J. 26627, E.G. Keech, Ord., R.N.”
Pair officially impressed: “J. 26627 E.G. Keech A.B. R.N.”
Naval LSGC officially impressed: “J. 26627 E.G. Keech, Slmr, H.M.S. Pembroke.”
Ernest George Keech was born on 17th January 1898 in Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire.
He was a farm labourer aged 15, when he first began his long career in the Royal Navy on 6th August 1913 as a Boy 2nd Class at the Ganges Training Ship.
During the war he joined HMS Botha, serving on board from 30th March 1915 – 30th January 1918.
After the war, he spent 2 years on the Insect Class Gunboat HMS Tarantula from Feb 1922 until Feb 1924 under Capt Cecil J Crocker DSO, serving in China on the China Station, operating out of Hong Kong the ship travelled up through China’s river system the “Pearl River”. The Insect Class true to their name were small and evasive but well armed ships intended for shallow river or inshore service, they were used to good effect during his time on board, as they could rest at Hong Kong before travelling inland deep into China through their extensive inland river systems.
In World War 2, he was brought back into duty as a Sailmaker, joining HMS St Tudno, a recently armed Ferry, where he took part in the Dunkirk Evacuation.
Lieut Frank Matthews, RNVR, recalls his induction into the Royal Navy in May 1940:
“There was a very brief spell of induction training, because of a sudden draft to Sheerness to join HMS St Tudno, a converted Ferry, and after boarding the ship was on its way, I had no information as to where, it turned out to be to Dunkirk for the Evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. There I had my first experience of Dive Bomb Attacks during the several trips to and fro’ from France.”
World War 1 Period services:
HMS Hannibal, 26th August 1914 – 19th Feb 1915
HMS Pembroke I, 20th Feb 1915 – 29th March 1915
Woolwich, HMS Botha, 30th march – 30th June 1916, during this time became of age and made Ordinary Seaman on 6th August 1915, followed by promoted to Able Seaman on 16th March 1916.
Greenwich, HMS Botha, 1st July 1916 – 2nd May 1917.
Attentive II, HMS Botha, 31st May 1917 – 25th July 1917
14 Days in the Cells here
HMS Botha, 9th August 1917 – 30th January 1918
HMS Pembroke I, 31st January 1918 – 24th May 1918.
12 Days in the Cells here.
Pembroke I, 6th June 1918 – 3rd July 1918.
HMS Yarmouth, 4th July 1918 – 7th December 1920.
Notably in the post war period, he served on the Insect Class River- Gunboat from 8th February 1922 to 22nd February 1924, operating out of Hong Kong travelling through China during the turbulent time of the Chinese Revolution.
Ernest began to specialise in Sailmaking, becoming Sailmakers Mate first on 28th September 1927.
He became Acting Sailmaker on 13th March 1931.
Followed by Sailmaker on 13th March 1932.
During this period he was just in time to earn his “Coinage Head” Naval LSGC being awarded it on 25th March 1934.
He was eventually pensioned on 11th February 1938 having reached his 25th Year in the Royal Navy.
However this did not last long before World War 2 began, with his return as a Sailmaker he saw service;
Pembroke I, 1st Feb 1940, Sailmaker (6 Years).
HMS Wildfire (St Tudno), 7th Feb 1940
Wildfire (St Tudno), 1st April 1940
Queenboro Pier, 1st October 1940
The publicly available service records only extend to 1940 but recall that:
He joined HMS St Tudno as Sailmaker about 7th February 1940.
St Tudno was originally not a military vessel, but was taken on by the Government due to the war and made a Armed Boarding Vessel.
Right as he joined, the ship was ready for service and notably went over to France to be one of the Dunkirk Rescue Ships.
On 28th May 1940, HMS St Tudno took part in the Dunkirk Evacuation and rescued about 4,000 troops.
Following Dunkirk, St Tudno went to Queensborough Pier, Kent to become a Depot Ship for Minesweeeper duties.
Ernest later died during 1958 in Sheppey, Kent.
