KEYS, Edward
| Service Number: | 1026 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 January 1915, Brisbane, Qld. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | South Brisbane, Qld., 6 September 1886 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Stockman |
| Memorials: | Holland Park Mount Gravatt Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1026, 5th Light Horse Regiment, Brisbane, Qld. | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 1026, 5th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Karoola embarkation_ship_number: A63 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 1026, 5th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Karoola, Brisbane |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Ian Lang
Son of Edward KEYS and Lydia Wright nee RIXON, Stanley Street, Five Ways, Brisbane, Queensland (Birth registered as KEAYS)
It is difficult to determine the connection of Edward keys to the Mount Gravatt district. At enlistment in January 1915, he gave his address as Stanley Street, Five Ways (Woolloongabba). His occupation is recorded as stockman and it is possible that he worked in the Mount Gravatt area.
As a 28 year old stockman, Edward was the perfect candidate for the Light Horse and was drafted into the 5th Light Horse Regiment. The unit embarked at Brisbane on the 12th June 1915 and by 25th September had been landed at Gallipoli (without horses) as infantry. Two weeks after landing, Edward was transferred to Malta by hospital ship with Hydrocele (a benign watery swelling of the testicle). In December as Gallipoli was being evacuated, Edward was moved to the Australian General Hospital in Cairo where his hydrocele was operated on. At the time, he reported that he had had the condition for several years and that it was brought on by riding. Edward was returned to his unit in February 1916. While the Australian Infantry Divisions in Egypt were being expanded and reorganised prior to deployment to the western front; the Light Horse would remain in Egypt. During 1916, the Light Horse Brigades were based at Moascar and engaged in defending the Suez Canal as well as offensive patrolling of the Sinai Peninsula. In November 1916, Edward reported sick to hospital with VD. Upon discharge, he was transferred to the 2nd Light Horse; another Queensland Regiment.
1917 saw the Light Horse extend its area of operations into southern Palestine, culminating in the fall of Gaza in November 1917. Edward reported to hospital with his second case of VD in December 1917. He was hospitalised for 47 days and fined 11 pounds and 15 shillings.
On discharge, Edward was posted to a cookery school and was posted back to his unit as a cook after two weeks instruction. On 12th June 1918, as the Light Horse Brigades continued to push north through the Jordan Valley, Edward was transferred back to the 5th LHR.
Edward was returned to Australia from Egypt on 27th June 1919. He applied for repatriation benefits in 1946.
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