DARING VENTURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1942, Page 4

DARING VENTURE

RAID ON ROMMEL’S HOUSE IN LIBYA POSTHUMOUS AWARD OF VICTORIA CROSS MADE TO COLONEL KEYES. TERRIBLE HAZ ARB FACED MOST GALLANTLY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, Noon.) RUGBY, June 19. One of the most daring feats of the present war —the raid on General Rommel's residence and headquarters in North Africa last November—is recalled by the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Major (Temp. Lieutenant-Colonel) G. C. T. Keyes, of the Royal Scots Greys. In the words of the official citation: “It vzas a venture which, even»if were initially successful, meant almost certain death for those engaged in it. Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes was a son of Sir Roger Keyes. He commanded a detachment of a force which landed 250 miles behind the enemy lines, under orders to attack the enemy headquarters, base installations and communications.” The citation continues: “From the outset Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes deliberately selected for himself the command of the detachment detailed to attack what undoubtedly was a most hazardous objective—the residence and headquarters of the G.O.C. of the German forces in North Africa. He led his detachment, without guides, in dangerous and precipitous country, in pitch darkness and by his stolid determination and powers of leadership maintained the morale of the detachment. He then found himself forced to modify'his original plans in light of fresh information gained from neighbouring Arabs, and was left with only one officer and N.C.O. with whom to break into Rommel’s residence and deal with the guards and headquarters staff. At zero hour on the night of November 17, having dispatched a covering party to block the approaches to the house, he, with two others, crawled forward past the guards and through a surrounding fence up to the house. Without hesitation he boldly led his party up to the front door and demanded an entrance. Unfortunately, when the door was opened, it was found impossible to overcome the sentry silently. It was necessary to shoot him. The noise aroused the inmates of the house and Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes, appreciating that speed was 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 emptied his revolver into the first room and was followed by the other officer, who threw grenades. Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes, with great daring, then entered a second room, but was shot almost immediately and fell into the passage mortally wounded. On being carried outside by his comrades, he died within a few minutes.”