Plaque for Lieut. Col. Geoffrey Keyes VC No.11 Commando
St. Fillian's Church Hall, Aberdour, Fife. See CVA History Section for Victoria Cross recipients for more about Geoffrey Keyes VC.
His photo can be viewed HERE
MEMORIAL TO LT. COL. GEOFFREY KEYES V.C. (this account of the ceremony published in Commando Association Newsletter 106 dated March 1998):
The town of Aberdour paid tribute to Lt. Col. Geoffrey Keyes VC. exactly fifty years to the day after he was killed in action on the so-called "Rommel Raid". Somehow Lt. Col. Keyes' name was never inscribed on the war memorial in the town of his birth, Aberdour. This was rectified on Tuesday November 18th 1991, when his brother the present Lord Keyes of Zeebntgge and Dover unveiled a granite plaque at Aberdour Church hall. "I am very proud and appreciative of the fact that the town of Aberdour has honoured my brother. I give my warm thanks to all you good people for paying him such an honour." The ceremony came about through a special working group on remembrance and war memorials set up by Fife Council. An appeal for information brought in details of Col. Keyes' exploits and his connections with Aberdour. It was decided to ensure that his name lived on in the town and ex wartime Commandos and members of the Fife branch of the Parachute Regiment joined the community to commemorate the hero. Fife Council Convenor, John MacDougall said "We are here to remember a truly great person, a distinguished life lost during World War Two. It is a privilege , pleasure and honour to be here to pay my respects on behalf of Fife Council to such an outstanding hero." For the Community Council, Bunny Gray added "Today we remember Geoffrey Keyes as a gallant young hero who paid the ultimate price of war." The Rev.Peter Park told the guests "Many of us never knew him; he is a name from the past, like so many names on this and other war memorials. But this does not stop us from remembering him. There are also many here who did know him. You served with him and some of your friends died with him; and you will have your own memories, some good, some bad. "Today we attend to remember Geoffrey Keyes and dedicate this plaque to his memory but in doing so let us pay tribute to all who died in the service of their country whose names are written on this and other war memorials."
In Memory of all who died and Lieutenant Colonel GEOFFREY CHARLES TASKER KEYES VC, MC
Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons), Royal Armoured Corps and No. 11 (Scottish), Commando
who died age 24 on 18 November 1941
Awarded Croix de Guerre.
Remembered with honour at BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
|
|
Recent comments
Photo updated
Link added
Posted by Pete Rogers (Admin) on Wed 05 Dec 2012 13:47:37 EST