Ernest Keen was aged 25 years and 10 months when he attested to join the army at Fulham Town Hall on 3 September 1914. He agreed to join for three years, or the duration of the war. At this time, he was a single man, employed as a groundsman, with no prior military experience. Ernest lived at 37 Musard Road, Fulham with his father, Charles Percy Keen.

A brief medical examination revealed that he stood 5 feet 5 ½ inches tall, weighed 120 pounds and had a 36-inch chest. He had a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He was found fit for service.

Ernest was posted to join the Wiltshire Regiment. We no longer know the reason for this selection. He was sent to Devizes, where he joined the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, the regimental depot, on 6 September 1914. Here he began his basic infantry training.

Ernest must have shown early promise, for he was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal as soon as 7 October.

On 18 January 1915, he was posted to join 1st Battalion in France, where he arrived next day.

He was made Acting Corporal on 15 December 1915, a rank which was confirmed on 20 April 1916. In January 1916, it is known that he was with C Company.

During the early days on the Somme on 4 July 1916, Ernest suffered a wound to his left foot. He was evacuated from the battlefield and left France for hospital in England, arriving on 9 July 1916. Administratively, it was considered that he had left 1st Battalion and was posted to the 3rd. He arrived at the Brook War Hospital at Woolwich, where he remained until 15 September 1916. Here, the fourth toe of his left foot was amputated. His medical grade was reduced to B (fully fit men were A).

After a ten day gap that may have been a period of home leave, he was posted to the Southern Command Depot at Sutton Coldfield, arriving on 25 September 1916. This was effectively a large convalescent camp, despite its rather forbidding military title. He was posted back to 3rd Wiltshire on 1 February 1917 when pronounced fit again.

On 8 May 1917, Ernest married Edith Arblaster at a parish church at Cirencester. Two different addresses are shown on the documents for Edith. It appears that at some point she lived at a Wild Green House, Wild Green. The town is unfortunately obliterated. We suspect that this may be Wylde Green House, Wylde Green, Birmingham. She then appears to have moved to 11 Prospect Place , Cirencester.

It would appear that the couple had decided to marry before Ernest was sent back to France, for soon afterwards – 29 April 1917 – he crossed the English Channel again and arrived at an infantry base depot in France. He was initially posted to the 2nd Battalion of his regiment on 11 May, but it is doubtful that he actually joined that battalion in the field, for on 28 May 1917 he was posted on, back to his old battalion, the 1st.

Ernest found himself in trouble on 18 June 1917, when he was put on a charge of “quitting his fatigue without permission”. He received a severe reprimand.

On 1 November 1917, Ernest put up a third stripe, when appointed unpaid Sergeant. This promotion was made permanent on 23 March 1918.

Ernest was reported missing on 12 April 1918. He was held as a prisoner of war in Germany (at Dulmen and Cottbus), and repatriated to the United Kingdom arriving on 6 January 1919. After debriefing, he would have been posted to a depot somewhere, but on 13 February 1919 was admitted to Fulham Military Hospital, suffering from a urethral problem. The medical authorities decided that this had not been caused or aggravated by his military service, and did not qualify him for an additional pension.

After being discharged from hospital, medically downgraded to B2, he spent a further few weeks in the dispersal and demobilisation process, the last part of which was spent at Exeter. Here he was finally discharged to Class Z Army Reserve, civilian life and Edith Keen, on 6 April 1919.

By this time, the family home had moved to 36 Bronsart Road, Fulham Cross.

Ernest qualified to wear the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

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