Edward Nicholson Keedy was the fifth child (fourth son) of six born in May 1880 to George Young Keedy and Ann Eliza Keedy of South Shields, County Durham. His father worked as a lightman on the Tyne and later as a wherryman. Lightman and wherryman were terms for boats and their workers on the river.
As a child Edward Keedy attended Holy Trinity Boys School in South Shields from 3 December 1888 to 15 September 1902, and in 1903 he enrolled at Bede College to train as a teacher. After graduating he took up a teaching post at Westoe County School where he worked until he joined first the 2/7th Northumberland Fusiliers, later transferring to the 1/5th Durham Light Infantry.
Between 9 and 11 April 1918 the D.L.I. was part of the 150th brigade which was defending the bridges over the Lys at and around Estaires. It appears that no record of losses exists for individual days as the battalion were moving around defending the lines and the losses are listed on 12 April as 25 killed, 112 wounded and 286 missing in action. Private Edward Keedy was among these casualties. His body was never identified.
Edward Keedy is remembered on a number of memorials including the Bede College 1914-1918 Cross (but not its plaque or roll of honour), rolls of honour at Holy Trinity Church and School in South Shields, books of remembrance at Stockton-on-Tees and Sunderland, and Ploegsteert Memorial in Hainaut, Belgium. Keedy left a widow, Isabel (née Blenkinsop Blackie) – they had married in 1909 – and who was living at 58 Hartington Terraces in South Shields in 1918. Isabel Keedy survived until 1959.