Keith Halden was born on the 8th September 1887, the son of Archibald Weir Halden and his wife Harriet Johanna.

In the 1891 census, the family is shown as living at 1a Singleton Steet, Swansea. At the time, Keith was the youngest child with 2 elder brothers (James and Archibald) and 2 elder sisters (Harriet and Garnetta).

Keith was baptized at Holy Trinity, Swansea on 30 Sep 1897. At the time, Archibalds occupation was given as School Board Clerk and their address was 4 Promenade. On the same day, two of Keith’s sisters were also baptized, Harriet (born 25th Sept 1880) and Sybil Helena Estella Maud Garnetta (born 19th Aug 1882).

According to his service record, he was educated at the Grammar School, Swansea and Llandovery College

Keith married Ethel May Holmes in 1909 and by the time of the 1911 census, they had welcomed their first child, Geoffrey. Keith gave his occupation as Colliery Agent and Exporters Clerk and the family were living at 64 Hawthorne Avenue.

In the 1939 register, Keith and May were living in 56 Newton Road, Mumbles with their sons James and Michael. Keith is described as a Municipal Clerk and under the additional comments it states Lieut. RFA TA (Retired) 1st Welsh (how) Bde RFA. ARP Warden.

Keith Halden died in Swansea on 23 November 1951 and was survived by his widow.

Keith Halden enlisted in the 1st Welsh Howitzers as a Gunner in 1909 and was given the service number 385. The service record relating to his pre-war service has not survived, but his service number points towards him enlisting in February/March 1909.

Fortunately, his war-time service record has survived and this shows that he progressed quickly through the ranks, being promoted to Bombadier in 1910, Corporal in 1911 and Acting Sergeant in 1912 and finally transferring to the Territorial Force Reserve in 1914 when he became Time Expired.

On 6th July 1914, he re-enlisted in the Brigade as a Corporal, retaining his original service number and along with his comrades, was mobilized on the 5th August.

Given his background and the need for new officers, Cpl Halden applied for a commission in the Brigade in September 1914. At the time, he was serving in the 1st Glamorgan Battery as Pay Sergeant. Both his Brigade and Battery Commanders supported his application and provided references. Major GT Gregor (Comdg 1st Glam Bty RFA) stated I have known Corpl Halden for many years & have always found him to be thoroughly upright and moral in his mode of life. J Henry (Lieutenant Colonel Comdg 1st Welsh Brigade RFA) statedI consider Sergt Halden fit for a commission and recommend him for a temporary Commission in the Reserve Brigade.

Keith Halden was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Welsh Brigade on 29 September 1914, with his promotion dated 30 September. He was further promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 23rd August 1915 (gazetted 14 September).

Lt Halden remained in the UK throughout 1915 and 1916 and his service record confirms that he remained with the Brigade. Furthermore, according to the local newspaper, he was involved in one of the Brigade’s rugby matches in Swansea on 5th April 1915. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that he served at the depot in Swansea through this period.

According to his service record, he remained with the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade until he transferred to 409 Battery. 409 Battery was raised at Larkhill from June 21, 1917 as part of the newly formed 96th Army Field Artillery Brigade RFA.

On 10 January 1918, he transferred to the 79th Brigade in India and on 2 May 1918 he moved to No.30 Indian Mountain Battery and served on the North-West Frontier in India.

At the start of September 1918, Lt Halden was transferred to No.25 Indian Mountain Battery in Mesopotamia and according to his records, on 14 September 1918, he left his ‘peace station’ at Quetta and travelled to Karachi and then onwards by sea to Basrah. His service record states that was promoted to acting Captain between 18 October 1918 and 4 November and acted as second in command of the battery. The armistice with the Turks was signed on 30 October 1918.

After the war, he embarked at Basrah to return to the UK on HT Ekma on 7 March 1919 and was disembodied on 2 May 1919.

Lt Keith Halden was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal and is remembered on the St Jude's War Memorial and in the Swansea Grammar School Roll of Honour.