Private J.J. McKeever,
T4/1244223, 4^th Division Supply Unit,
Army Service Corps.

Division 14

J. J. McKeever was 50 years old and died on the 8^th August 1915.  He was  the son of John and Jane McKeever.  Born at Waterside, Londonderry.

McKeever died in a tragic boating accident whilst based near Reading.  He and Driver J. Starkie were in a Canadian canoe on the Thames at Tilehurst when the canoe capsized and both soldiers were drowned.  Neither man could swim.  The Coroners verdict was that of “Accidental Drowning”.

During the war years there were many such accidents on the Thames, sometimes of army personelle and sometimes civilians and children.  Many drownings were accidental, some were deliberate acts of suicide.

Mrs Starkie attended the funeral and also Thomas Logue, the brother in law of McKeeveer.  A volley was fired and the “Last Post played”.  The grave of Private McKeever is marked by a CWGC war pattern headstone.  Driver Starkie  is also buried in the cemetery in Division 49.