Box Hill Cemetery 395 Middleborough Rd Box Hill VIC 3128
Cemetery Address
Box Hill, VIC
Demonination/Area
Church of England
Section
108
Grave Number
0026
Notes
ORDINARY SEAMAN KEITH WYNETT MAYHEAD 2139 RAN
Keith Mayhead was born in Launceston Tasmania in November 1896 and was a member of the second intake of boys trained on HMAS Tingira. Keith was advanced to Boy 1st Class in September 1913 and posted to the Light Cruiser HMAS Sydney in October of that year. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in November but discharged from the RAN in March 1914, having purchased his discharge.
In June 1915 Keith, now working as a seaman, enlisted in the AIF as a Gunner in the Australian Heavy Artillery Brigade with the official number 318. He embarked from Australia on HMAT Orsova in July 1915, but was far from a perfect soldier. He was convicted of being absent without leave soon after arriving in England and was sentenced to three days Confined to Barracks (CB) and a day’s pay. In April 1916 he was convicted of failing to attend a Parade, losing two day’s pay before embarking for France to join the 54th Brigade in May 1916. Within a month he was convicted of failing to obey a lawful command and he received 14 days Field Punishment (FP). He would receive a second sentence of 14 Days FP in September when he used improper language when spoken to by an NCO.
Keith would now behave himself for a year until in August 1917 he was Court Martialled for striking an NCO in the Royal Flying Corps in the face. This would bring him 28 Days Field Punishment and 34 days forfeiture of pay. In November 1917 he proceeded to England on leave, and within a fortnight was admitted to Hospital there with VD. He would remain in UK under treatment, and in early February 1918 he was charged with multiple offences including using obscene language to a Military Policeman, striking the policeman and destroying his cap and badge. What his punishment for this was not recorded.
He eventually rejoined his unit in France in April 1918. Keith was wounded in action in August, a minor wound and he remained with his unit. He was hospitalised with illness in October 1918, possibly with the Spanish Flu which was sweeping through units on the Western Front. He only returned to duties two days before the Armistice. The same day he was readmitted to hospital with VD, staying under treatment for 50 Days.
On the 28thof January 1919 he received an admonishment and forfeited 10 day’s pay for being AWL the previous day. Finally on the 8th of February, he embarked for the UK eventually leaving UK for Australia in April 1919, discharging from the AIF in August.
In 1922 Keith married Josephine Page in Melbourne and the couple lived in Melbourne Keith working as a Storeman, and later as a Skinbuyer.
Keith Mayhead passed away in Melbourne on the 29th of May 1952. He is buried in Box Hill Cemetery plot CE-108-0026
Sources
Service Record - Australian National Archives
Service Record - Australian National Archives
