Appendix II

APPENDIX II

LT.COL. KEYES V.C.

John Young wrote an article about Col Keyes, published in the 'Times' in March 1995.

I believe the 24 year old Col Keyes and a small party of commandos, landed from a submarine behind the German lines in November 1941.

They worked their way inland in a daring attempt to catch Rommel in his headquarters. But Rommel wasn't there. It was his birthday, and he was away celebrating. Intelligence slip up?

Col Keyes was killed in the attack on the enemy headquarters.

John Young reminds us that Rommel had the bodies of the four Germans killed and Col Keyes' body laid beside each other before the alter of the local church.

Rommel ordered that the five should should be buried side by side, with full military honours.

SO,I DECIDED I OUGHT TO WRITE TO 'THE TIMES'.

Letter to the Editor, 'The Times'.

28th March 1995

Dear Sir,

Lt.Col. Keyes V.C.

John Young's article on Monday reminds us that Rommel had the bodies of four German officers who had been killed at his H.Q. and Colonel Keyes laid together before the alter of the local Church.

The five were then buried together as a group side by side in similar graves at Bedda Littoria.

By 1946, Col Keyes body had been exhumed and reburied in Benghasi Military Cemetery.

A shrine and memorial to the chivalry of the desert war had been disturbed.

Are the four Germans still at Bedda Littoria ? Is Colonel Keyes still in Benghazi ?

It may be difficult to maintain the high standard of care established by the Imperial War Graves Commission in countries where our relationship has changed.

Re-assurance about the condition of our cemeteries in Lybia would be welcome as would knowledge of the four German graves.

Yours Sincerely

(D.L.Torrance)
Then 28/29 Graves Registration Unit, Benghazi.

This letter was never printed.

The last two paragraphs stemmed from a curiosity about access after our changed relationship with Lybia, culminating in the Lockerbie tragedy.

I believe visits by relatives to our cemeteries were so restricted as to be rare.

Is anyone looking after the graves of the four Germans?

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