Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes

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Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes, VC, MC, CdeG SCOTS GREYS, (18 May 1917 - 18 November 1941) was awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second World War.

1 Family
2 Previous Actions
3 Award of Victoria Cross
4 Further information
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Family

He was the oldest son of Admiral of the Fleet Roger John Brownlow Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes, a British naval hero in World War I and the first Director of Combined Operations during World War Two. He attended Kingsmead School in Seaford, Sussex.

[edit] Previous Actions

Geoffrey Keyes was commissioned into the Royal Scots Greys, and was later attached to No.11 Commando, which went to the Middle East as part of Layforce.

Following the British invasion of Syria on 8 June 1941, No.11 Commando were sent to successfully lead the crossing of the Litani River in Palestine, fighting against troops of the French Vichy Régime, during which Keyes played a leading part.

[edit] Award of Victoria Cross

In October / November 1941 a plan was formulated at 8th Army headquarters to attack various objectives behind enemy lines, including Headquarters, base installations and communications facilities.

The operation was led by Lt.Col.Robert Laycock, and Keyes, who had been present throughout the planning stage, deliberately selected the most hazardous task for himself: the assault on the Headquarters of the General Officer Commanding the German Forces in North Africa - at the time General Rommel.

On the night of 17/18 November 1941 at Beda Littoria, Libya, Keyes' detachment landed from submarine some 250 miles behind enemy lines. The majority of the boats were swamped in the passage to the beach, with some men never making the shore, but the men who did were able to shelter in a cave, lighting a fire in order to dry themselves and their clothes. Shortly before first light they moved to a wadi where they sheltered throughout the hours of daylight. After dark on the second night, the detachment set off towards the objective, but was quickly deserted by their Arab guide, who refused to accompany the party in the deteriorating weather. Keyes was thus forced to lead his men on an 1,800 foot climb and an approach march of 18 miles in pitch darkness and torrential rain. Hiding during the hours of daylight Keyes led his detachment to within a few hundred yards of the objective by 2200hrs on the fourth night. With the depletion of his force, through the swamping of boats coming ashore and stragglers on the approach march, and in light of information elicited from neighbouring Arabs, Keyes modified his original plan: he detailed the majority of his men to take up positions to prevent enemy interference with his attack, and took only one officer, Captain Campbell, and one NCO, Sergeant Terry, with him.

Zero hour was set at 2359hrs, at which point he led his small group past the sentries and other defences, and up to the house. Unable to find a window or back door, through which to enter, Keyes took advantage of Campbell's excellent German by having him beat on the front door demanding entrance. The sentry, who opened the door, was set upon by Keyes and Campbell, but unable to immediately overpower him, Campbell shot him with his revolver - the sound of which alerted the German occupants to their presence. Realising that speed was now of the essence, Rogers was posted at the foot of the stairs, to prevent interference from the first floor, whilst Keyes and Campbell set about clearing the rooms on the ground floor - all of which had had their lights turned off at the initial gunshot. Keyes instinctively took the lead and quickly emptied his revolver into the first room, which was followed by a grenade from Campbell. Keyes then flung open the door of the second room, from which Terry stated that breathing and movement could clearly be heard, and was immediately shot, falling back into the passageway mortally wounded. Campbell and Terry carried him outside where he died a few minutes later.

It was later discovered that Rommel himself was not at the headquarters, having left the house two weeks previously.

For his actions, Keyes was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

[edit] Further information

His grave is in Bengazi War Cemetery in Libya. He is remembered on the Kingsmead School War memorial in Seaford, Sussex.

[edit] References

British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)

[edit] See also

Keyes, Elizabeth. Geoffrey Keyes, V.C., M.C., Croix de Guerre, Royal Scots Greys, lieut.-colonel, 11th Scottish Commando (London : G. Newnes, [1956])