"Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes commanded a detachment of a force which landed some 250 miles
behind the enemy lines to attack Headquarters, Base Installations and Communications. From the outset Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes deliberately selected
for himself the command of the detachment detailed to attack what was undoubtedly the most hazardous of these objectives—the residence and Headquarters of the General Officer Commanding the German forces in North Africa. This attack, even if initially successful, meant almost
certain death for those who took part in it. He led his detachment without guides, in dangerous and
precipitous country and in pitch darkness, and maintained by his stolid
determination and powers of leadership the morale of the detachment. He
then found himself forced to modify his original plans in the light of
fresh information elicited from neighboring Arabs, and was left with
only one officer and an N.C.O. with whom to break into General Rommel's
residence and deal with the guards and Headquarters Staff. At zero hour on the night of 17th–18th November, 1941, having dispatched the covering party to block the approaches to the house, he
himself with the two others crawled forward past the guards, through the
surrounding fence and so up to the house itself. Without hesitation, he
boldly led his party up to the front door, beat on the door and
demanded entrance. Unfortunately, when the door was opened, it was found impossible
to overcome the sentry silently, and it was necessary to shoot him. The
noise of the shot naturally aroused the inmates of the house and
Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes, appreciating that speed was now of the utmost
importance, posted the N.C.O. at the foot of the stairs to prevent
interference from the floor above. Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes, who instinctively took the lead,
emptied his revolver with great success into the first room and was
followed by the other officer who threw a grenade. Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes with great daring then entered the
second room on the ground floor but was shot almost immediately on
flinging open the door and fell back into the passage mortally wounded. On being carried outside by his companions he died within a few minutes. By his fearless disregard of the great dangers which he ran and of which
he was fully aware, and by his magnificent leadership and outstanding
gallantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes set an example of supreme self
sacrifice and devotion to duty."
From Lt. Col. Keyes' Victoria Cross citation, awarded on 19th June, 1942.
Another brave ally,
Brian & Mel
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