Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Dan Keeling, a painter and paper hanger, born 1855 in Syston, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Keeling (nee Sibson, married in the 4th quarter of 1873 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district) born 1851 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire. Leonard Thomas, a schoolboy, was born in the 1st quarter of 1887 in Thurmaston, his siblings were, Arthur William K. Sibson, a painter and paper hanger, born 1871, Charles Sibson, a painter, born 1874, Edith Eliza, a schoolgirl, born 1879, Ernest Edwin, a schoolboy, born 1881, Minnie Jane, a schoolgirl, born 1883, Emma Mary, a schoolgirl, born 1885 and Dan, born 1891, all his siblings were born in Thurmaston, in April 1891 the family home was at Harrison Cottages, Main Street, Thurmaston. In March 1901 Leonard was residing in the family home at Main Street, Thurmaston, together with his father, a plumber and painter, his mother and siblings, Edith, a hosiery trade machinist, Ernest, a plumber, Minnie, a hosiery trade machinist, Emma, a basket maker, Dan and Alfred, born 1893 in Thurmaston. In the 1st quarter of 1908 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district, Leonard’s father died aged 53. In April 1911 Leonard was employed as a house painter and was residing in the family home at Main Street, Thurmaston, together with his widowed mother, the owner of the family house painting business and siblings, Edith, a hosiery trade worker, Minnie, a hosiery trade worker, Dan, a house painter and Alfred, a house painter. Leonard died in Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham, Kent.
On Friday May 12th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – THURMASTON MAN’S DEATH. The news of the death of Private L. T. Keeling, of Thurmaston, caused profound regret throughout the village. He only enlisted a few weeks ago, and succumbed to pneumonia in Chatham Hospital last Thursday. The body was conveyed to Thurmaston on Saturday night and interred on Monday in the cemetery with full military honours. The vicar, the Reverend George Chappell, officiated. The firing party of the Leicesters fired a volley over the grave and the “Last Post” was sounded. The coffin was of unpolished oak, with brass fittings, bore the inscription, “Leonard Thomas Keeling, aged 29 years.” The wreaths included one from “the officers and men of his company,” and one from the Thurmaston Conservative Club, of which deceased was a member. A muffled peal was rung on the church bells.