94933 John KEATING, OBE, 2 Irish Guards

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Keating, John
Rank: Lieutenant & Quartermaster
Service No: 949933
Regiment: 2 Armoured Battalion Irish Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: North-West Europe 1944-1945
Award: Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 21 June 1945
Date 1945
Catalogue reference WO 373/84

 

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Keating, John
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: 94933
Regiment: Irish Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: New Year Honours
Award: Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 01 January 1957
Date 1957
Catalogue reference WO 373/164

 

From Irish Guards Journal, 1960:

OBITUARY
LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN KEATING, OBE, Late Irish Guards

By Brigadier B.O.P. EUGSTER, DSO, OBE, MC, Irish Guards


By the death of Lieutenant Colonel John KEATING, “K” to everyone, the IRISH GUARDS have lost one of their famous members and the Household Brigade one of its most colourful contemporary characters, who was known and admired by a large circle of friends.

“K” enlisted into the Regiment at KILKENNY in September 1920. By 1936 he had already made his mark, and was a Sergeant in the Battalion, having served with them in CONSTANTINOPLE and GIBRALTAR. By December 1931, he was Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant of the Battalion and a character well known throughout the Brigade. He went to Regimental Headquarters as Superintending Clerk in 1936, where he remained until his promotion as Quartermaster in the 2nd Battalion in the spring of 1939. During the greater part of these years, the 1st Battalion was in EGYPT and PALESTINE, and many officers and men, and the married families especially, owed a great deal to “K’s” indefatigable efforts on their behalf.

No sooner had he organised the “Q” side of the 2nd Battalion to his very particular likes than the Second World War broke out, and “K” accompanied the Battalion to the HOOK OF HOLLAND and then BOULOGNE. His comments on these tow short actions were acerbic and to the point.

The period from October 1941 to May 1944, was probably the happiest of his soldiering days. The re-equipment and conversion to armour which took place when the 2nd Battalion became part of the GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION presented a challenge in which he delighted. His energy became even more formidable and his wit even sharper as he threw himself into the problems which the conversion presented. He must have felt amply rewarded during the victorious campaign in North West Europe, and certainly the Battalion realised his tremendous contributions. For his war service he received the M.B.E.

In May of that year he was transferred to the 1st Battalion and accompanied them to PALESTINE and TRIPOLI in 1947. There can be no doubt that during this period he gave his greatest service to the Regiment during the difficult period of transition from war to peace. His experience of and advice on the customs and traditions of the past and his suggestions as to how to apply them to the present were quite invaluable.

In 1951 he succeeded another great Brigade character, Captain SMITH, Scots Guards, as Quartermaster of the Guards Training Battalion, and in a very short time had become a legendary figure. He remained with the Battalion until his retirement in April 1957, being promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1954, and receiving the O.B.E. in January 1957.

Even on retirement “K” had not finished his service to the Brigade, for he went to WINDSOR as officer in charge of Married Quarters, and remained there until being appointed as a Retired Officer, to Headquarters London District, as Staff Captain “Q” the appointment he held on entering Millbank Hospital in February 1959.


“K” was essentially a shy man, who hid his intrinsic kindness and charity under what might have seem a somewhat brusque exterior at times. No one will ever know how much he did to assist those who needed help, but there must be many people, especially among the married families of the Regiment and the Brigade who will recall him with tremendous gratitude as a friend in time of need.

For thirty-nine years “K” served the Regiment and the Brigade to the utmost of his powers, and was in every sense a splendid example of a Guardsman and a gentleman, and his epitaph might well read “well done thou good and faithful servant.”

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2nd Armoured Battalion Irish Guards: Pre-embarkation List, May 1944

HQ Squadron, 2 Armoured Irish Guards

Serial: 35
Vehicle No: 5295856 (IMG)
Type of Vehicle: 15 Cwt ( A ) QM

• 2719946 C FOOK, 2 Irish Guards Guardsman, Dvr IC
• 94933 John KEATING, OBE, 2 Irish Guards Captain, QM
• 2717364 A YOUNG, 2 Irish Guards Lance-Serjeant, Clerk

Total Officer: 1
Total Other Ranks: 2

 

Personal Number: 94933
Rank: Captain (Quartermaster)
Name: John KEATING, OBE
Unit: Irish Guards

London Gazette : 18 May 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37082/supplement/2559/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
I. G'ds.
Lt. (Qr.-Mr.) KEATING (94933) to be Capt. (Qr.-Mr.). 18th May 1945.

London Gazette : 21 June 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37138/supplement/3220/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe:—
To be Additional Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: —
Captain (Quarter-Master) John KEATING (94933), Irish Guards (Stourton, Wilts).

London Gazette : 22 February 1949
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38543/supplement/936/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
I. G'ds.
Capt. (Qr.-Mr.) J. KEATING, M.B.E. (94933), to be Maj. (Qr.-Mr.), 22nd Feb. 1949.

London Gazette : 7 September 1954
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40273/supplement/5193/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
I.G.
Maj. (QrnMr.) J. KEATING, M.B.E. (94933) to be Lt.-Col. (Qr.-Mr.), 21st Aug. 1954.

London Gazette : 1 January 1957
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40960/supplement/7/data.pdf
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:—
To be Ordinary Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—
Lieutenant-Colonel (Quartermaster) John KEATING, M.B.E. (94933), Irish Guards.

 

Irish Guards: Medal Rolls, General Service Medal, Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948

Personal Number: 94933
Rank: Captain, Major Quartermaster
Name: J KEATING, MBE
Unit: 1 Irish Guards
GSM & Clasp: GSM, Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948
TNA Reference: WO 100/526
Notes: