1915 Star. Gerald Keon. 1st Inniskilling Fusiliers. Gallipoli. Born Rachmines, Dublin. Wounded & colourful service

1915 star on replacement ribbon named to 21398 pte g keon r innis fus .

Gerald was born 29th November 1895 at rachmines Co Dublin.

It seems hevwas serving as a pte in 50th company royal army medical corp and whist on leave in March 1915 he joined the 4th Queens own hussars . He was arrested but avoided a court martial due to his young age and obvious desire to fight in the war .

He served with 4th until May when he joined the 1st battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers.

He landed in gallipoli 24th August 1915 .

There Is a record of him being in Mountjoy prison Dublin 4th November 1916 on a charge of absent from hm forces and being handed over to military escort 7th November 1916 .

He was discharged In 1919 with 20% disablement due to gunshot wound in chest and enteric.

He worked for the Regimental Paymaster Dublin after discharge from 24th May 1919 until 6th August 1920 .

Then joining the raf as an aircraftman no 351234 serving until 6th February 1926 when his time expired.  He served at raf Manston and Uxbridge 1st as ground crew then a petrol driver .

There is also a note in his records of his trying to join the Royal corp of signals in December 1921 whist recieving a disablement pension and in raf .

His address during ww1 was given as 9 Park view avenue, Harold’s Cross,  Co Dublin. There is also a note he had been in custody of Northampton constabulary on a charge of highway robbery ( needs more research) .

In 1939 he is living at Wandsworth In London a general clerk by occupation.

He died at Lambeth in 1970 leaving an estate of just 83 pounds .