SIR ROGER KEYES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20114, 27 November 1928, Page 9

SIR ROGER KEYES.

NEW NAVAL APPOINTMENT.

THE PORTSMOUTH COMMAND,

Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received November -6, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. "5. Admiral Sir Roger Reyes is to succeed Admiral Sir Osmond do B. Brock as Commander-in-Chief at. Portsmouth.

Admiral Sir Roger Keyes was born in October, 1873, his father being Sir Charles Keyes. Entering tho Navy in 1885 ho took part in tho Vitu expedition in 1890 and fur his services in China in 1900 was promoted commander. In 1905 he reached tho rank of captain and till 1907 was naval attaeho at Home, Vienna, Athens and Constantinople in turn, lie became commodore in charge of the submarine service in 1912. During the war lie was oflicer in charge of the flotilla oi submarines which was sent close in to Heligoland, on August 28, 1914, with the light cruisers Arcllmsa and Fearless and some dest overs behind them and bigger ships out. of sight in the oiling. Goiitmii cruisers came out and the small P>rilish vessels held their own till the battle cruisers arrived and sank tho Koln ami the Mainz. Keyes also took part in the Cuxhaven raid. " In 1915 he became chief of staff to Admiral de Kobeek, who commanded the Eastern Mediterranean Souadron at the Dardanelles. Tn 1917 he was promoted rear-admiral and appointed director of plans at tho Admiralty His most notable services, however, were rendered in command of the Dover patrol. It was he who directed the heroic naval raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend, the object of which was to block tho channels by which U-boats and destroyers emerged from these ports. On the'night of April 22-23. 1918, conditions seemed fa von, able, but a wind rose r-nd dispersed 'he mist so that heavy fire was brought to bear on the ,ships by the German batteries. Hut a landing parfv got, on to the mole at Zeebrugge and dest roved it 5 works while a submarine loaded with explosive* was run under tho viaduct which connected fl-J mol» with the shore and blown up. Meanwhile the blocking ships were sunk at the mrsjth of the canal and the survivors of their crews were picked up and got away to the Vindictive and her consols. At Ostend the blocking ships had to be sunk outside tho centre of tho waterway, but the effort was repeated with more success bv the Vindictive on tho ninht of May 9-10. For his services Admiral Keves received the K.C.B. and after the war was made a baronet and received a grant of CIO.OOO. From April. 1919, to 1921 as rear-admiral he commanded the battle-cruiser squadron of the Atlantic. Fleet. He was then promoted vice-ad-miral and became deputy chief of the general staff. In 1925 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean station and in March, 1926, promoted admiral.

Admiral Sir O. de P.. Brock has been Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth since 1926. He was born in January, 1869. In 1910 he was assistant director of naval mobilisation. Ho was A.B.C. to the Kins. 1913, rear-admiral, 1915, and admiral, 1924. He served in naval engagements in tho North Sea, 1914-15, was chief of staff to tho Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet. 1916-19: deputy chief of naval staff, 1919-22: Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean station, 1922-25; and Lord Commissioner of tho Admiralty, 1919-21.