Si Placet Necamus - We destroy at will
137412, 2nd Lieutenant, Wilfred Frank KEEPIN
Aged 17
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Wilfred Frank Keepin was born in Kedington (Risbridge Q1-1901 4A:877) son of John and Elizabeth KEEPIN (née SAINSBURY) The Royal Air Force has him as born 13th
January 1900 so it seems he has added at least one year to his age. His father had previously been married to Ruth BATCHELOR who died in 1886. His parents married in 1887 in Bath
1901 census...Aged 3 months, he was "near The Post Office, West Wratting with his father John KEEPIN [49] grocer and shoe dealer born Trowbridge; his mother Elizabeth [35] born Wilton, Wiltshire; sister (Army have her as a foster sister- should be half sister) Celia [17] born Trowbridge; brothers Hubert [11] born Trowbridge and Stanley [8] born Kedington. 1911 census...Frank was 10, at school, living in West Wratting with his widowed mother [43] (shop=keeper) and with his cousin Elsie SAINSBURY [14] born Bristol |
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He attested on 22nd April 1918 for the Royal Air Force as a wireless operator. Commissioned in the RAF on 26th June 1918. The badge above was a later issue to 139 Squadron,
the fasces in front of a crescent is from the badge of No. 28 Squadron RAF to which No. 139 was first attached in 1918). 139 Squadron Royal Air Force was
formed on 3 July 1918 at Villaverla in Italy and was equipped with Bristol F2b fighter aircraft. It was disbanded on 7 March 1919 and became a bomber squadron in WW2.
His RAF records show "Missing - Killed in Action 16 August 1918 aged 20. His aeroplane fell in flames near Trento". Yet another change of his age. Flight magazine muddles the story even further detailing an almost impossible service career for a very young man :- "Sec.Lieut. Wilfred Frank KEEPIN, R.A.F., previously reported missing and now reported killed, aged 17, was the only surviving son of Mrs Keepin of West Wratting, Cambs. As a Boy Scout he received a medal for stopping two runaway horses attached to a military wagon at Cambridge in May 1916. The same year he became a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and engaged in transport work. On April 12th 1917, he had the experience of being torpedoed and rescued. He subsequently became attached to the R.N.A.S., and on joining the R.A.F. was detailed for service at the front.
photo:Commonwealth War Graves Commission There are just two WW1 British burials in this cemetery. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
