British Army Veterinary Corps
William John KEE
Captain
Died 20 December 1918 · Aged 24
His story
Captain William John Kee was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, on 9 January 1894.
William Kee graduated on 25 April 1916 from the Ontario Veterinary College and, within a month, was appointed to the British Army Veterinary Corps. He left Canada and arrived in Havre, France, in July 1916 and was attached to the 14th Brigade of the Royal Horse Artillery.
Captain Kee served in the Somme, Ypres, and Arras areas and, in November 1917, in Italy before returning to France at the beginning of the German offensive in March 1918.
After the Armistice in November 1918, Captain Kee was taken ill and died at Number 3 General Hospital London from Tuberculosis.
Kee’s body was returned to Canada for a private burial in the Fernhill Cemetery in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
Photographs and documents
Before the war
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Date of Birth
- 9 January 1894
- Place of Birth
- Canada
- Veterinary College and Date of Graduation
- Ontario Veterinary College - April 1916
Military service
- Last Rank
- Captain
- Regiment/Service
- British Army Veterinary Corps
- Secondary Regiment
- Royal Horse Artillery
- Secondary Unit
- 14th Army Brigade
- First Theatre of War
- France July 1916
Medals and commemoration
- Name on RCVS Honour Board
- No
- Name In Officers who died in Great War
- No
- Medals and Awards
- British War Medal 1914-1918; Victory Medal
Death and burial
- Date of Death
- 20 December 1918
- Age at Death
- 24
- Place of Death
- London, England
- Cause of Death
- Tuberculosis
- Cemetery
- Fernhill Cemetery
- Location
- St. John, New Brunswick, Canada
- Grave Reference
- L. 4114 S. 16. Pine path.
- Commonwealth War Grave
- Yes - CWGC Headstone
- Emblem or Badge on Headstone
- British Army Veterinary Corps
Sources and further reading
- CWGC casualty and commemoration record
- Find a Grave memorial
- Record of William Kee's death — reproduced document
Cite this biography
Graham Hodgkins and Pete Matthews, “William John Kee”, Veterinary Virtual War Memorial, https://vetsremembered.org/people/william_john_kee/.
Contribute information
Can you add a letter, family photograph or document that tells us more about his life before service? Please give its source and any permission needed for display.