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Vears John Keogh - Information

Vears John Keogh was born in Campbelltown in mid 1887. When war broke out, Vears was living with his parents, John and Mary Ann Keogh, on Station St in Arncliffe. He supported himself working as a railway fettler before he decided to enlist in the AIF when he was 28 years old. He joined the forces at Nimmitabel on the 13th of January 1916. He was then moved around various training units, and was posted to the 4th Reinforcements, 55th Battalion at the end of June. Vears was then shipped out from Sydney aboard the HMAT Port Sydney on the 4th of September 1916.

After a short stay in England, Vears departed Folkestone for the trenches in France in December 1916. He was marched out to the field, and was taken on strength to the 55th Battalion. The new year proved to be very interesting for Vears. In February 1917, he was charged with damaging government property and had to report to hospital. He was then experiencing pain due to a hernia and was evacuated to England to Colchester Hospital. By March, Vears was resting at No. 1 Convalescence Depot and then found himself attached to the 68th Squadron Royal Flying Corps in Harlaxton. He met his new unit in France in September, helping the air crew fly their missions. On the 18th of January 1918, he was transferred to the 2nd Squadron. As the war was drawing to a close, Vears’ work with the AFC came to an end. By February 1919, he had rejoined the 55th Battalion. He continued to serve with his old unit, until he was sent home aboard the Beltana in July 1919.