Bertram Keast

Story:
Bertram Keast was born on 10th October, 1889 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 17th November, 1889. He was the son of Samuel John Keast, a law clerk, and Emily Keast (née Taylor). He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1899 to July 1906. After leaving school he became a schoolmaster and then entered a solicitor's office, first in London and later in Dorchester. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was single and living in the family home at 7 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. On 28th December, 1914 he married Kate Taylor and they had one child, a son. On his marriage certificate he gives his occupation as Solicitor's Clerk. He enlisted in Dorchester and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18584) as a Private. He later transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (New Service No. 31066) and went on to serve in France and Flanders being promoted to Lance Corporal. Bertram and Kate's son Maurice was born on 16th February 1917. Official records show that Bertram died on October 26th 1917 although this may be the day on which he was reported missing. The Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine gives some details: "Bertram Keast was shot in the left arm on the Paschendale front, on October 26th, 1917, and taken prisoner." According to this account he was transported to Germany and died there on November 5th. He was buried in the civilian churchyard at Essen. Bertram was awarded the Victory and British War medals and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 38 to 40). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial, on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church and on the Shaftesbury Grammar School memorial in Shaftesbury School. His widow received a pension of £1. 0s. 5d. (£1.02p) which expired in 1933 by then she had remarried Ernest Ridgeway in 1926. The June 1917 edition of the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine mentions a donation by Bertram's father: "A framed list of the names of over 160 boys on active service, now adorns our Schoolroom wall. It was written by Mr. S.J. Keast, and presented by him to the School. We offer him our grateful thanks for his most artistic production, which is one more proof of the great interest he always takes in all that concerns the School." In Gold Hill Museum there is a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys who served in the forces, updated throughout the war, but it is not known if this is the work of Mr. Keast. Bertram's name was included and an asterix can be seen next to his name, indicating that he had died. Printed Source: Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1919 Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1917