People named Keith Cahir

Keith Joseph Cahir of Spri Australia, was married to Julia Mary Obrien in 1924, and has a child Keith Michael Cahir. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Keith Joseph Cahir.

Cahir, Joseph Keith (960) Age: 24 Occupation: farmer Next of kin (sister): Stella Cahir, Nar Nar Goon Enlisted 26 September 1914 as Private, 14th Battalion Embarked HMAT Ulysses (A38) 22 December 1914 Reported Missing in Action Dardanelles 8 August 1915. Reported Prisoner of War by British Red Cross Society. Interned Angora, Turkey 3 November 1915, interned Bazanti Terminus of the Anatolian Railway near Taurus Mountains 21 June 1916, interned Afion, Karihassir 30 November 1916, Interned San Stephano Prisoner of War Camp, Constantinople (later Bilemedik), Turkey. Repatriated 29 November 1918. Returned to Australia 25 December 1918 Born at Carlton, Victoria, in June 1890, but residing in Droop Street, Footscray when he enlisted, Joseph Keith Cahir was aged 24 and working as a striker when he joined the ranks of the AIF on 25 September 1914. With other members of 14 Battalion, 960 Private Cahir embarked aboard HMAT Ulysses (A38) on 22 December 1914, arriving in Egypt almost two months later. He took part in the landing on 25 April 1914 and was reported missing on 8 August 1915 in the disastrous 4th Brigade action on Sari Bair. The Battle of Sari Bair (also known as the Battle of the Nek), launched on 6 August 1915, was timed to coincide with a major landing of troop reinforcements at Suvla Bay on the Aegean coastline north of Anzac Cove. The battle formed part of Allied Mediterranean Commander-in-Chief Sir Ian Hamilton's three-plank Suvla Offensive. Aside from the landings at Suvla Bay intended with the aim of securing the Anafarta Hills, a secondary although critical attack from Anzac Cove was planned northwards to seize control of the Sari Bair ridge. Success at Suvla Bay and against Sari Bair was crucial if the Allies were to gain complete control of the central heights of the peninsular. From there the southern peninsular could be cut off and command of the Dardanelles Straits ensured the Allies principal aim in the region. The third plank of Hamilton's offensive anticipated a holding attack from Helles intended to pin Turkish forces in the southern peninsular, preventing them from rushing northwards to assist in repelling the Suvla landings. British Anzac commander William Birdwood had contemplated a move north to the commanding Sari Bair ridge north-east of Anzac Cove since May but had been prevented from doing so by Hamilton's (reasonable) insistence that insufficient Allied resources were available to support the move, particularly given the arrival of Turkish reinforcements to the sector. However with the promise of three fresh divisions (later expanded to five) courtesy of the British war minister Lord Kitchener, Hamilton resuscitated Birdwood's plan as part of the wider Suvla Offensive. The new plan required the movement of two Anzac brigades northwards along the Aegean coast from Anzac Cove, which would then swing east towards the west flank and rear of Sari Bair. Quite aside from the inherent benefits in controlling the ridge - it offered a panoramic view of the surrounding area - its falling into Allied hands would prevent its use by the Turks in preventing the landings at Suvla Bay. Consequently some 25,000 troops were added to Birdwood's Australian and New Zealand Corps, more than doubling its total to approximately 45,000. An advance from Anzac along the Aegean coast was initiated during the early hours of 6 August by General Godfrey and 22 000 troops, although advance reconnaissance was made difficult through highly effective Turkish sniping which claimed many casualties, both killed and wounded. In spite of the crucial requirement for speedy progress, the advance northwards hit immediate delays amid the maze of ridges, gullies and stiff heat accompanying the operation. The effects of ongoing dysentery also exacted its toll upon Godfrey's men. Consequently his force (which included future Anzac corps commander Sir John Monash) found themselves disastrously short of their first day's objectives - Chunuk Bair ridge and Hill Q - by close of daylight. Meanwhile a heavy diversionary attack launched from Anzac Cove south towards Lone Pine the same evening resulted in heavy fighting which continued throughout the following day, 7 August, with a number of Turkish trenches falling into Allied hands on 8 August. A report from a close friend, Private G Thompson, convalescing in a hospital in Alexandria, that Cahir was killed during this assault, gave great cause for alarm for Keith’s sister Stella who sought assurances from official sources that this was not the case. Further inquiries to the British Red Cross Society and Ottoman Red Cross revealed Keith was a prisoner of war. Like many others captured at the same time, Keith passed through many prison camps during his time as a prisoner of war including one in Angora, Turkey (this was early November 1915), Afion, Kari hassir and San Stefano in Constantinople (later Bilemedik). In January 1919 welcoming news came to Stella when she received a letter from a Major Lean, Officer in Charge of Base Records at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne. With the letter was a photograph taken at San Stefano (where Istanbul Airport now stands) of eight Australian soldiers, one of whom was Keith, standing at far right. Dated 10 January 1919, the letter reads as follows: Dear Madam Enclosed forthwith is a photograph including your brother, No 960 Private JK Cahir, 14th Battalion, which was transmitted to this office from London HQ. The photograph…is forwarded as a memento of the trials this soldier has undergone whilst serving in the Australian Imperial Force. I trust he will be spared to return none the worse for his trying experience.” The Photograph, San Stefano Camp, Constantinople, 30 June 1918. (AWM C01052) .. Standing, from left to right: Private Frederick Ashton, 11th Battalion; Lance Corporal David Boyle, 14th Battalion; Private Reginald Francis Lushington, 16th Battalion; Private Thomas Chalcroft, 14th Battalion; Private Joseph Cahir, 14th Battalion Front row left to right: Private John Troy, 16th Battalion; Private Robert Malcolm McColl, 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment and Private Harry Foxcroft, 14th Battalion. By the time the letter arrived Keith was on his way back to Egypt. He left Suez on Christmas Day 1918 and arrived on 8 February 1919. With the war at an end Private Cahir was recommended for discharge – “permanently unfit for general service” was the classification marked on his service file. Displaying signs of debility and having suffered the Spanish flu and recurrent bouts of malaria Keith Cahir was discharged from the AIF on 15 April 1919. (source: Attestation Paper of Person Enlisted for Service Abroad, Medical Report on an Invalid, AM Form D2, Australian Military Forces, Casualty Form Active Service Army Form B103, garriehutchinson.com “Remember Them”)

Keith Michael Cahir of Spri Australia was born in 1925, and died at age 60 years old in 1985 in Spri.

Keith Joseph Cahir of Bent Australia was born in 1891, and died at age 69 years old in 1960 in Bent.