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Alex keenan who remembers him ??

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Alex was in a prisoner-of-war camp in Poland which by an unlucky chance was very near Monowitz Concentration Camp which was part of the huge Auschwitz complex [ Auschwitz 1, Birkenau and Monowirz ] The British P.O.W.s were disgusted at the scenes they witnessed every day almost, crimes committed by the Nazis against a lot of the Monowitz inmates who were mainly Jewish.

They tried to help the Monowitz prisoners in different ways -------which could be very dodgy if the Nazis saw it going on ! So, I would guess Alex did his share of heroics, perhaps more than his share ? However the ' famous ' incident was carried out by their senior officer, a man called Charles Coward [ ! ] who smuggled himself into into Monowitz to try and find a Jewish doctor from Newcastle. He had no chance, really, and said it was the worst night of his life !

Later, I think Coward gave evidence at the trial of Auschwitz personnel in about 1960. Anyway the film they made of it all was largely centred around Coward 's adventure. I read the book, ' The Password is Courage ' ages ago but can 't remember much more about it.

I think we can all be proud of the help the British lads gave, despite having very little themselves [ no nipping to Asda to stock up !! ].

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Is there any evidence that the Alex Keenan, the subject of these posts, is the same character called 'Keenan' in 'The Password is Courage', the book?

The book says that some names have been changed.

May this suggest that the Keenan in the book is the author's literary construct, or was Alex (of Sheffield) the one who was a POW in camp E715 in Auschwitz near Monowitz and assisted Charlie Coward with his camp duties and they both helped Jews to escape?

Any evidence?

Any ideas?

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is that you rick?.

 

yeah lol who is this lol tb

 

---------- Post added 19-12-2013 at 18:18 ----------

 

Think he had a few brothers , one was called Bill

 

alex had 7 brothers actually

 

---------- Post added 19-12-2013 at 18:57 ----------

 

its true he passed a bit of dynamite an a match to a jew who was going to get executed and thats how they managed to blow up the gas chambers and by doing that he saved thousands of jews lives and his name is alec keenan lol

 

---------- Post added 20-12-2013 at 21:28 ----------

 

i have been talking to my dad today about his uncle alec keenan he said alec had 6 borthers and 1 sister the sister kath is still alive today kath was the youngest and the part about the war hero is true he was a explosive speacialist

 

---------- Post added 20-12-2013 at 21:34 ----------

 

if you want any more info about alex keenan please email kaygeelan@hotmail.co.uk who is his granddaughter.

 

hi i am his brother ronnies grandson ricky paul keenan alot people dont relaize 5 brothers out of the 6 was a prisnor of war been to see my dad paul keenan today he been telling me all about it sounds intresting our family tree :) happy cristmas

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On 16/03/2013 at 19:03, hulkhogan said:

alex did have a driver and he only dealt in cash. all the painters who worked for him used to get paid in the big tree pub every friday. he only wore brown shoes whitch he bought from easyfit on woodseats. i know he had a least one brother mick and his language left nothing to the imagenation. he lived on the corner of holmhirst road and moorview road.

My name is Paul keenan Alec keenan was my uncle my dad was one of the 7 brothers...it's true he was a real war hero there's none of them left now unfortunately their sister died recently at 82 Kathleen and the film password is courage was made about him and his fellow prisoners of war they help a lot of Jews escape from the camp at head count they would hold a dead one up to be counted and them help a living one escape as well as other ways... I remember there being a four page write up on the Sheffield star when he passed.. my dad was william(bill) Alec was a legend and on the eve of VE Day these men should never be forgotten..thanks to you all on here for your interest in our family thankyou again

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On 20/09/2012 at 18:16, ripon street said:

would like to hear from anyone who remembers alex keenan or any of his brothers. they were a well known family in the fifties sixties....and seventies .

 

On 20/09/2012 at 18:16, ripon street said:

would like to hear from anyone who remembers alex keenan or any of his brothers. they were a well known family in the fifties sixties....and seventies .

I lived in Olive t Road, Woodseats, I knew Alex, nice bloke, always a cheery word.

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I worked at 699 Chesterfield Road and met Alex on a number of occasions. It was always interesting to talk to him and a couple of things I remember were: 1. He told me on a Friday he would start drinking in the Albion (bottom of London Road) and drink in every pub on his way to the Abbey at Woodseats where he would stay until the wee small hours  with Ernest & Evelyn Johnson.  2. I recall him relating a story of attending London for the film premiere of a war film (I thought he said The Longest Day) and when he saw the characters with pristine uniforms, cleanly shaved and hair Brylcreamed he stormed out and retorting in his own inimitable style that it  was nothing like that!!! He was a real character who was instanttly identifiable with his gruff voice and urbane language but there wasn't a bad bone in his body.

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