Current Information:

8, Southwood Court, Hampstead Garden Suburb

Spoilbank Cemetery, Belgium

At the outbreak of war in 1914, the 2nd Cheshire battalion were in India but they soon returned home where they joined 84 Brigade of 28th Division. In late January, 1915, 28th Division arrived in France and being a regular division they were quickly put into the trenches in water-logged positions south of Ypres near St. Eloi and Oosthoek. It was a far cry from the warmth of India and there were many cases of sickness and frostbite.  

In the middle of February, 1915, 85 Brigade of 28th Division came under a heavy attack while holding the line to the south of Ypres during which trenches were lost and then regained after counter-attacks. On 15th February, the 2nd Cheshire battalion was sent from Ypres to relieve some of the battered battalions of 85 Brigade. On 16th February two of their companies were involved in an attack with 1st Suffolk in an unsuccessful attempt to regain one of the lost trenches and on 17th February, 2nd Cheshire joined up with the 1st Welsh battalion who had successfully recaptured some lost positions. The trenches they moved into had been badly damaged. They were deep in water and mud and large parts of the parapet had been destroyed which greatly increased the danger from enemy snipers. The battalion remained here until 20th February suffering many casualties as they did. According to the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission George Keating  was killed on 17th February but the battalion diary recorded that he was killed in the attack made on 16th February.