First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield

Thomas Henry KEEN (1897–1916)

Thomas Henry Keen or Keene was born in New Headington in 1897, the son of Charles Frederick Keen (born at Headington Workhouse to a single woman, Emily Keen, in 1861 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, in Headington Quarry on 4 August that year) and Martha Gardiner (born in New Headington and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 26 July 1868).

His parents were married at St Andrew’s Church on 22 May 1892 and had seven children:

• Margaret Emma Keen (born in New Headington in 1893, died aged 6 months, buried Headington Cemetery 7 July 1893)
• Percy George Keen (born in New Headington in 1895, died aged 2½, buried in Headington Cemetery 16 October 1896)
• Ada Keen (born in New Headington, died aged 4 months, buried at Headington Cemetery 28 January 1896)
• Thomas Henry Keen (born in New Headington in 1897, registered with surname spelt “Keene” in second quarter)
• Emily Elizabeth Keen (born in New Headington in 1898, registered fourth quarter)
• Frederick Charles Keen (born in New Headington in 1900, registered fourth quarter)
• Rose Keen (born in New Headington in early 1902, died aged 15 months, buried at Headington Cemetery on 8 May 1903).

Thomas’s father Charles was a bricklayer’s labourer, but was away from Headington at the time of the 1891 census; his future wife, Martha Gardiner (21) was living on the south side of Wilberforce Street (then called William Street), looking after her father and brother.

Thomas’s parents moved into Martha’s father’s house after their marriage, and the 1901 census shows them living at Wilberforce Street with their three surviving children: Thomas (4), Emily (2), and Frederick (10 months). His grandfather Charles Gardiner (76) was still living with them.

Less than two years later Thomas’s father Charles Keen died at the age of 43 and was buried at Headington Cemetery on 12 January 1903.

Thomas’s widowed mother Martha Keen remained in Wilberforce Street, and by the time of the 1911 census she was working as a laundress. Her three children were still at home: Thomas (14) was out to work as a house boy, and Emily (12) and Frederick (10) was still at school. Thomas’s grandfather, Charles Gardner (84) was still living with them: he died two years later and was buried in Headington Cemetery on 11 November 1913.

In the First World War Thomas Henry Keen served as a Private in the 1st/4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 5654). He was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme in France on 5 November 1916 at the age of nineteen, and has no known grave. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 10A and 10D) and on the roll of honour of All Saints’ Church.

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Postscript

Thomas’s mother

• Mrs Martha Keen died at the age of 65 in the Oxford district (registered second quarter).

Thomas’s sister

• Emily Elizabeth Keen married George Ovenden at All Saints’ Church on 3 January 1920, and her address was then given as 2 William (now Wilberforce) Street. They had two children in the Headington district: Thomas G. Ovenden (registered second quarter of 1920) and Emily Ovenden (registered third quarter of 1921).