ROGER
JOHN BROWNLOW KEYES was already an experienced admiral prior to the Zeebrugge
Raid. Born in the Punjab in 1872, he was only 13 years old when he began his
Royal Navy career as a cadet. He steadily worked his way up, becoming
lieutenant of HMS Turquoise at the tender age of 21.
Admiral Roger Keyes: The Fearless Commander Behind the Zeebrugge Raid
 |
Roger Keyes
Public domain photo
(The Seafarers)
Arthur Corbett Smith |
Fourth
born to Sir Charles Patton Keyes, this British-Indian officer’s son declared from
an early age he wanted to go the family way and serve the British Empire. And to
this end, he became a confident and audacious naval officer who feared no
challenge or opposition as he travelled throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.
Key Missions: Zanzibar, Boxer Rebellion and the Dardanelles
Chief
missions include the suppression of the Slave Trade from Zanzibar, key
involvement in the Dardanelles Campaign, commander of the Dover Patrol on the
South coast of England, the Zeebrugge Raid in Belgium and the capture of
Chinese destroyers during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.
Rising Through the Ranks: Keyes’ Naval Career Before WWI
Keyes
feared mockery least of all, proving wrong his incredulous Russian naval staff
when he disabled the Boxer defences who besieged parts of Peking after
terrorizing Western nationals.
Keyes’
bold approach against the Boxer uprising formed the turning point in his career
and he earned prestigious appointments within the Royal Navy, commanding numerous destroyers
and battleships. In 1916, he inevitably earned a Distinguished Service Order for action in
armed combat.
And
yet, Keyes was already a naval veteran prior to the Zeebrugge Raid in 1918. Keyes
loved the sea and he embraced any mission, no matter how formidable. His
involvement in the Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1914, for instance, resulted
in the sinking of several German vessels with the loss of 1000 German soldiers,
but not without significant losses of his own men.
A
year later, Keyes was appointed Chief of Staff to the Gallipoli Campaign,
although his proposals to attack the Turkish forts from the rear were never
carried out. Much of his frustration lay in his inherent need to ‘get things
done’ rather than take the so-called unimaginative and stodgy approach of some
of his bureaucratic fellow officers.
The Dover Patrol and the Fight Against German U‑Boats
Keyes
was the natural choice for the storming of Zeebrugge and Ostend, being
pragmatic and experienced in raiding stratagems. But first, Keyes closed off
the Straits of Dover to the German Uboats sneaking through allied defences at
night. Keyes’ intelligent strategy involving the laying of sea mines at various
depths sunk several German submarines within a mere month.
However,
Keyes was almost drowned soon after when the seaplane he was travelling in had
to crash land due to engine failure. But his greatest challenge was yet to
come, as his flagship. HMS Warwick provided a conspicuous target for the German
naval men stationed on the Mole off the coast of Zeebrugge. Keyes was
consistent in his offensive approach and demonstrated to the public his iron
will and determination, as well as that of his crew.
Although
the outcome of the Zeebrugge Raid saw limited success – the German officers
were able to clear the Bruges channel after being scuttled by allied blockships
– Keyes was seen as a national hero along with his fleet.
Keyes' Later Career: Politics, Combined Operations and World War II
Keyes
continued in his involvement in the training of commandos in the raiding of
hostile locations and also commanded various battlecruisers between the wars
before becoming Admiral of the Fleet in 1935. But he saw little action at sea
from then on, involving himself in politics and becoming MP for Portsmouth
North. Active on the debate on the government’s effectiveness in war tactics, he
was instrumental in Churchill’s rise.
Keyes proposed plans to raid Nazi
occupied ports in Europe during World War II, but the chief of staff saw Keyes
as being reckless and his plans were turned down. Replaced by Lord Louis Mountbatten
as the director of Combined Operations Headquarters, Keyes felt betrayed by
those he had supported.
Final Years, Legacy and Burial Among His Men
To
appease Keyes’ disillusionment, the title ‘Baron Keyes of Zeebrugge and Dover’ was
offered. Keyes closed his career via a farewell tour around Canada, New Zealand
and Australia on board HMS Appalachian. Sadly, Keyes suffered lung damage after
inhaling aircraft smoke from Japanese aircraft and never fully recovered. He
died of a heart attack a year later in 1945.
Through
all the action Keyes had seen, he still wished to be buried amongst the men
who had given their lives to the Zeebrugge Raid in 1918.
