“A Keeble” appears on the Packard memorial as “killed in action” and refers to Alfred Thomas Keeble who is also commemorated on the village memorial.
“A Keeble 4th Suffolk Inf.” is also recorded on the Schools Roll of Honour and as “A Keeble” on the Packard Roll of Service as having survived the war.
Albert fits the profile of a man who served in the 4th Suffolk and survived the war and therefore the man on both the School Roll and Packards factory. The 4th Suffolk was a Territorial battalion and from his service number Albert would have enlisted in 1912. Albert was the son of Fred and Alice Keeble of “The Works” [Papermill Lane] Bramford. He was the brother of Harry Walter Keeble and George Frederick Keeble both of whom are listed on the village memorial. He was born on 8th February 1893 and in 1911 he was a Labourer (Stockman) but by the time war broke out he must have been working for Packards.
A War Office list dated 12th September 1916 records Pte 1429 A J Keeble as having been wounded and entitled to wear a “Wound Stripe”.
Medals inscribed to “Pte Albert J Keeble 1429 1/4 Suffolk R” are in a private collection and were obtained together with one of his brother Harry’s – which helps to confirm his identity.
Albert Keeble medals.
Left to right: 1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
He went to France with his battalion on 8th November 1914.
Detail of the reverse of the 1914 Star showing the inscription
Albert’s entry in the 4th Suffolk Muster Book (Suffolk Records Office – Bury St Edmunds)
The detail in this document tells us that he suffered a bout of “trench foot” which kept him out of the front line from the 6th to the 31st December 1915. He rejoined his battalion on 1st January 1916 near Vermelles in the Loos sector. Luckily Albert was awarded 8 days leave to the UK from 13th to the 20th January and missed a mine being detonated, on the 19th, under the front line being occupied by the 4th Suffolk.
The battalion were moved to the Somme on the 14th July 1916 and at dawn on the 15th they went to the support of the 1st Middlesex in an attack on “Switch Trench” during the Battle of Delville Wood. The battalion suffered some 200 casualties including Albert who received a wound to the chest. He was taken to No 21 Field Ambulance on the 17th and then onto the 36th Casualty Clearing Station the same day. His wound was considered to be severe and as a result he was transported to St Johns Brigade Hospital in Etaples. After about a month here he was taken back to the UK on the Hospital Ship “Newhaven” on 15th August. Following treatment and recovery in England he went back to France on 14th June 1917. Albert wasn’t sent straight back into the line as he spent some time at the Advanced Horse Transport Depot in Abbeville eventually rejoining his battalion on the 15th May 1918 and demobbed the following year.
There is a possible marriage to Gertrude Parsons in Ipswich in 1920
Albert died in 1972 in Ipswich.
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