CAPT. J. KEIR, KILLED IN ACTION

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 112, 8 November 1917, Page 2

CAPT. J. KEIR, KILLED IN ACTION

AN APPRECIATION. The death of C3pt. Keir, 22nd Reinforcements., killed in action on 23rd October, caused expressions of widespread sorrow throughout Wellington and district, .where he was very well known. Capfc. Keir was born in Dunedin in September, 1873, and was thus 44 years of age. As a youth of twenty lie arrived iv Wellington to manage the New Zealand Express Company's branch. Later he resigned from that'service and established the Keir'3 (N.Z.) Forwarding Agency. Capt. Keir-was a born soldier,, and had the rare combination of arousing the utmost esprit de corp in all units under his command, with perfect discipline. His Reinforcement (the 22nd) was generally credited with being among the most, efficient that left our shores, and earned high commendation for its behaviour. His relatives have the satisfaction of Having in their possession, letters of eulogy in this respect from the New Zealand Railway Department, the commanders of transports, chaplains, and officers of the social organisations that, accompanied the troops. Capt. . Keir gained his commission at 21 years of age and was appointed the following year to the position of staff-officer to Col. Pole-Penton, Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces. In that capacity he accompanied the Duke and Duchess of York, the Imperial Troops, and the Indian Troops on their respective New Zealand tours. He was adjutant of the ■ camp when the Wellington Forces were ( mobilised for review and training before' Field Marshal Lord Kitchener at Johnson ville. As captain of the Zealandia Rifles, a Wellington company, he made a name for the corps, which was the most successful at the various New Zealand military tournaments, and earned the proud position of being the crack volunteer company of New Zealand. At the last Territorial camp, in 1916, at Karori, his company won the cup for general all-round efficiency. Likewise the company under his immediate command in the 22nd Reinforcements earned high commendation, from the Officers Commanding at. Featherston and Trentham ; photographs of the company's lines were taken and forwarded to the British War Office as an example of the high standard of military training in New Zealand. Capt. Keir's Reinforcement reached the fighting-line in June last, and has been actively engaged with credit ever since in all the recent fighting'on the Western front. The men took part in the £reat battle of Flanders on 31st July, and ,no less than four of his brother officers were killed in that operation. Capt. Keir himself earned the Military' Cross for gallantry in the field just prior to his death in action. Socially and in business life Capt. Keir earned the respect of all who knew him as an upright honourable man. He was a popular member of the Central Club, whose members presented him with a suitably engraved gold watch us a souvenior on his departure for the front. His widow, Mrs. Florence Keir, and sister, Miss Mary C. Keir, are residents of Seatoun. He leaves a young family of two sons and one daughter. Three "brothers, all in the Expeditionary Farce« also survive him. Mr, D. Keir. J.P ' of Oriental Bay, is an elder brother' Undoubtedly Capt, Keir was one of Hie most able and popular of the native-born iNew Zealand soldiers, who have so gallantly made the srreat remitation of our forces.