Alfred KEETCH (1873-c. 1873)

Albert Henry Webster Keetch letter. held by Ken Keetch, Perth

Western Australia.

Maiƒs Sarah A Keetch

No.7 Sunderland Terrace

Westbourne Park, London, England

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No 764 Lanc Corp Drummer A.H.W.Keetch

H.M. 34th Regiment

Ranikhet

East India

31st May 1877

My Dear Sister Sarah,

I now sit down to write these few lines to you hoping

you are in good health as I am very proud to be able to tell you

that myself, wife and little son Harry are in perfect good health at

present. I was quite surprised when I received your letter as it

was some years past since I heard from you before. I wrote letters

to my father and to Polly when I first came into this country and

neither of them has answered my letters - I know they received them

because you spoke of the Sodawater machine in your letter. When

you see any of them, you can tell them that they might just find

one hour over a sheet of note to us, so that we may know if they

are living or not. I must tell you that Liz has been very ill,

she was in hospital for a very long time, and I never expected

that she would come out alive - but praise be to God she did get

out all right - she gave birth of a daughter on the 14th of last

January - it was such a sweet pretty little thing - but I am sorry

to say that she only lived 7 weeks - her name was "Mabel

Lucretia" - I’ve only just arrived at Ranikhet from Ferozipore -

We are sent up here for the good of our health - its a funny

looking place - on the top of mountains - its nearly like England

as regards the weather - we can sit at our door and see the snow

mountains about 30 miles away - plenty of wild bears prowling

about our doors at night looking for food - the other night I

was sitting smoking my pipe at the door, when a Jackall

came and put his nose into my door. Some nights I cant get

to sleep for the howling of them through the night.

Dear sister the first time you see John Gurr you

can tell him I will send him a few lines, as you have sent

me his address and I know where to write to him. I suppose

he has got a large family by this time -let me think - he

had two alive when I last saw him in 1872 - and I think

I heard from some one that they had got another before I left

Ireland to come out to India - I have buried two since I was

at home among you - my first (Little Alfred) in the Curragh

Camp in 1873 -and the little girl in Ferozepore this year -

and I have my second little boy (Henry James Webster) still

alive, he was 3 years old on the 21st of January last - please

give our kind love to father and mother when you see them, and

dont forget to send me their address so that I may send them

a few lines. Also give our love to my sister Polly and John

and we hope that all their little ones are well, and hope that

John is doing well - and remember us to all who inquire

after us - and above all I want for you to try and find out

(if you can) where Lizes sister Sarah is, for she would very

much like to hear from her - so some day you get out just

see what you can do finding out her address. If all

goes well, and we are spared to live so long - we shall

be home in England again in 5 years time - you will see

me then with a Good Conduct medal on my breast and 4 good

conduct stripes on my arm - I must now come to a close

Old Maid for this time hoping you are still in good health.

Oh! before I forget - give my kind love to Mrs Woodhouse

and if you dont mind you can send me her address.

So now I will conclude by asking of you to write as

soon as you can about everybody.

Once more good bye for the present

From your ever affectionate brother and sister

Lc Corpl Drummer A. H. W. Keetch

GRO Regimental Births 1761-1924.

Place Year Regt Vol Page

Keetch

Albert JWD Dum Dum 1881 34th 1081 80

Albert JWD Dum Dum 1876 55th 1089 38

Albert Curragh 1873 34th 1081 44

Henry JW Dublin 1874 34th 1081 45

Henry JW Dublin 1874 55th 1089 38

Jane EW Renikhet 1878 55th 1069 38

Jane EW Renikhet 1878 34th 1081 68

Mabel L Ferozepore 1877 34th 1081 63

recorded as Albert