"D" Battery, 119th Brigade, R.F.A.

Awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 28 July 1917.

Keirby was a native of Burnley, Lancashire.

British War and Victory Medals awarded to 55654 Private James W. Keirby, Cheshire Regiment. Military Medal and 1914/15 Trio awarded to W/2202 Sergeant Walter Keirby.

The Burnley Express of 23 August 1918 reported: - MEDALS FOR BURNLEY and BRIERFIELD HEROES. Private and Public presentations by the Mayor. Amongst those present with their medals was: - Sergeant Walter Keirby, RFA, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Keirby of 67, Padiham Road, Burnley, Lancashire. He gained the award of the Military Medal for a gallant deed done at Messines on Whit-Monday, just before the ridge was blown up by British mines. Sergeant Keirby and his pals of the battery had got thirteen teams of horses up and unloaded the ammunition wagon when a shell dropped into the middle of the second wagon, blowing it in the air. Terrible havoc was caused, men and horses being killed, but Sergeant Keirby and a Welshman named Sergeant Morris remained cool throughout the storm of shells and helped to carry away the wounded. Both men were awarded the Military Medal, but Morris was killed later on in June, and Sergeant Keirby was wounded a few days after his gallant deed. Before entering the army in March, 1915, Sergeant Keirby was an overlooker at Peel Mill, Gannow Lane, and was a footballer of some repute, playing with Walmsley's Peel Mill team, which won the Hospital Cup three years together. He has also figured with Burnley Reserves.