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DA/NF (right aligned)
412341 : Flight Sergeant James Hamilton KEELEY.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. J. Keeley of Dunedin.

James Keeley was born on the 28th January, 1922 at Balclutha, and received his secondary education at the Dunedin North Intermediate School. He furthered his education by attending evening classes at King Edward Technical College, Dunedin. The sports in which he was actively interested included football, tennis and cricket. At the time of his making application for aircrew training - on the 20th February 1940 - he was employed as a Stereotyper by the "Evening Star", Dunedin.

F/Sgt. Keeley was enlisted at Levin on the 13th April 1941 and on satisfactorily completing his initial training embarked for Canada on the 26th May 1941. Shortly after arrival in Canada F/Sgt. Keeley was posted to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. On the 24th November he proceeded to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba where - on the 22nd December 1941 - he was awarded his wireless operator air gunner's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st April 1943. On the 7th January 1942 he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Shortly after arrival at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, F/Sgt. Keeley was posted - on the 24th February - to No. 1 Signals School, Cranwell, Lincolnshire. He proceeded - on the 6th April 1942 - to No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Penhros, North Wales. On the 27th May he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire where he trained as wireless operator air gunner on Wellington bomber aircraft. From here he took part as a member of the crew of a Wellington bomber in one operational flight, the target being Dusseldorf, in Germany. In August he was posted to No. 1651 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, where he converted to Stirling aircraft. While undergoing training he carried