Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes

Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes (VC, MC, Croix de Guerre (France)) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 24 years old, and a T/Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Scots Greys, British Army, (Royal Armoured Corps) (11th Scottish Commando) during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 17/18 November 1941 at Beda Littoria, Libya, Lieutenant Colonel Keyes commanding a detachment of a force which had landed 250 miles behind enemy lines, led his men, without guides, in dangerous and precipitous country to attack the house which was believed to be General Rommel's headquarters. When they reached their objective, Colonel Keyes took only one officer and one NCO with him and having evaded the guards and dealt with the sentry, he dashed into the first room he encountered and shot the occupants. He then rushed into the second room where the occupants were the first to fire and Colonel Keyes was mortally wounded.

Further information

The medal

please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed

Reference

• 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)

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])

External links

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.