William KEITH

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1851, Netherley House, Fetteresso, Kincardineshire, Scotland, UK
• Occupation: 1871; Captain, Royal Engineers
• Residence: 1871, Portsmouth, England, UK

Notes:

Aberdeen Press and Journal 10 July 1891, page 6:
THE LATE COLONEL WILLIAM KEITH
Colonial William Reith, R.E., was son of the late Dr William Keith, of Aberdeen, and of Burnett Silver, daughter of the late George Silver, of Netherly, and of Muchalls, Kincardineshire.
He was born 4th October, 1836, and was the eldest of five sons, who all chose the army as a profession.
Educated at the Grammar School, in which he distinguished himself, he afterwards graduated at the Marischal College, where, subsequently he, for a short time, studied medicine.
His inclinations, however, were in the direction of the army, and he obtained his commission in the Royal Engineers, 7th April, 1856.
Towards the end of the following year he sailed for India, and arrived in time to take part in the operations in suppression of the Indian Mutiny.
He was present at the second relief of Lucknow, for which he received a medal and clasp, and mention in despatches by General Sir J.Outram.
Subsequently he took part in the relief of Azimghur as senior engineer with the Azimghur Field Force under Major-General Sir E.Lugard (mentioned in despatches), and in the operation in Trans-Gogra under General Sir Hope Grant.
In August, 1860, he returned to England, and after a few months at Chatham, he went with the 4th Company, the same that he had served with in India, to Dover, where he was employed on the ordinary departmental and regimental duties of the corps till the end of 1861, when telegraphic orders were received on the 29th December for the company to proceed at once to Liverpool, for embarkation on the 1st January for America.
The arms and all heavy baggage were to precede the company, and this duty fell to the lot of Lieutenant Keith, who accomplished it most satisfactorily, and was back in time to start with the company to Liverpool.
After a very bad passage of 21 days the company reached St John's, New Brunswick, and a fortnight after started by sleigh for Canada, but was stopped on arrival at Fredericton till September, when it was moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Here it was joined by the 18th Company, and Lieutenant Keith was appointed adjutant.
Very extensive works were soon in progress at Fort Clarence, George's Island, Point Pleasant, McNab's Island, &c.
For these very large quantities of stone were required, and granite and ironstone were obtained from the W.D. quarries on the N.W. arm of the harbour.
These quarries were worked by departmental labour, and Lieutenant Keith had charge of this work in addition to his duties as adjutant.
Great difficulties soon arose with regard to transport, which was continually breaking down, and delaying the work, and at last, when more extensive works were taken in hand, it was found absolutely necessary to make other arrangements, and it was proposed that the companies should undertake their own transport.
This Lieutenant Keith volunteered to do, and under his able management all difficulties were overcome.
A powerful tug-steamer was purchased, suitable barges built, cranes, &c. erected at the wharves, and the whole handed over to Lieutenant Keith to organise, and in a very few days all trouble ceased.
Two hundred and fifth tons of stone a day, besides cement and other stores, were delivered with the regularity of a postal service.
All this extraordinary organising power enabled him to do in addition to his other work.
He carried on this work till 1867, when the 4th Company (which he by this time commanded, having been promoted to captain on 5th June, 1865) was ordered to Bermuda.
He took the company there, but having now completed his five years term of foreign service, returned to England in May, 1867.
From this time till 1872 he was stationed at Portsmouth, and while there he succeeded, on the death of his father in 1870, to the property of Easter Muchalls, Kincardineshire.
From there he went to Manchester till December, 1873, where he, now a major since 25th August, was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Military Discipline at the S.M.E., Chatham.
This appointment he held till 31st March, 1876, when he was appointed brigade major, a position which he held for five and a half years with credit to himself and advantage to the service.
An ardent love of all sports, no one at the S.M.E. did more to promote and encourage them, but, at the same time, and in no way more effectually than by example, were we taught in the early days of our career that duty was paramount, and few out of the many who were on the establishment in those days would have ever suggested, and none more than once, the slightest modification of this axiom.
From the S.M.E. he went to Gibraltar for five years, in command of the companies R.E., and executive officer.
On his return to England in December, 1886, he remained on half-pay for twelve months, when, finding that the date for compulsory retirement on account of age (then fixed at 55 years) was but three distant, he retired voluntarily on a pension.
He was taken ill with congestion of the lungs on 29th April, and died on the following Tuesday.
His death is said to be due to disease of the kidneys, which had been some time at work, but had not received medication attention.
He was laid to rest on Saturday, 9th May, at Paddington Cemetery, having expressed a wish but three weeks before, when attending the funeral of a friend, to be buried himself at that place, because it was a bright and sunny spot.
The funeral was largely attended by brother officers and other friends, who came to pay a last sad tribute of respect to the memory of a friend who was so true, so hearty, and so warm-hearted.
A thorough soldier, he was a strict disciplinarian, and inspired a wholesome fear in the heart of the young officer who was inclined to be slack, and of the recruit who was slovenly.
But he was most kind-hearted, just, and straightforward, and commanded the utmost respect and regard from all whose privilege it was to serve with him.
We feel we cannot close this memoir without quoting from the letters of two old friends.
One, a retired officer, once his commanding officer in Canada, writes-
"Eulogy of his character I shall leave to abler pens than mine. He was the greatest personal friend I ever had, and without any exception the best fellow I ever knew."
The other, a distinguished officer still on the active list, who was his comrade, not only in Canada, but also at Portsmouth, writes more at length, and his words will strike a chord in the hearts of all who knew and honoured William Keith:-
"I never met a more thorough, a more staunch, sterling, and straightforward man, or a better soldier and disciplinarian."
Keith, while never making work, had a great capacity for it, and really liked to find his time fully occupied by military duty.
He was a markedly good drill, and had an abnormally keen eye for an error of movement, a waver, or a strap out of place; he was an equally good office man, being accurate, methodical, and rapid.
His power of commanding obedience and respect was very great, and he was always ready to lead.
Keith was a universal favourite among his brother officers, and those of other corps.
The men both feared and loved him; for, while he was very strict, every stern, they knew that no one was more thoughtful for their true welfare or more personally liberal towards them; and that he was just in mind and action, and appreciative of duty well done.
Humbugs, schemers, and shirkers were Keith's special abhorrence; and for these people, whether of high or humble position, there was neither room for mercy with him - they could not but tremble and keep out of range, if possible.
With a manner sometimes almost fierce towards delinquents, and always pretending to ignore all sentiment, he covered a heart as truly sympathetic and tender towards the helpless, weak, or troubled a s I ever served with.
Few persons knew of the large generosity towards others which Keith continuously and habitually practised; indeed, from his habit of disguising even from himself this most aide of his strong character, he himself hardly knew how warm a heart he possessed.
Strong men feared Keith's wrath, little children looked into his honest eyes, saw fun twinkling in them; read the kindly heart within, and fearlessly made friends, and listed with delight to his jokes, stories, and chaff.
The corps never lost a better officer when the altered conditions of service drove Keith to retirement from lack of prospects.
Of self-advertisement he had none.

Birth:
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
Name: William Keith Gender: Male Birth Date: 04 Oct 1836 Birth Place: Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland
Father: William Keith Mother: Burnette Silver
FHL Film Number: 991249

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Died:
Source: www.soldiersofthequeen.com/India-LtKiethRA.html