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Australia

Brian Irving KEYS was born on 21st December 1892 in Muswellbrook, New South Wales, Australia to parents Sophie Louise (nee DELOITTE) and Irving Blain KEYS.

A single, 21 year old Station Hand living with his parents in Ocean Street Woollahra at the time, Brian enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Sydney on 7th September 1914.  He was assigned to C Squadron of the 1st Light Horse Regiment as a Trooper, regimental number 566.  Following completion of his recruit training at Rosebery Camp, Brian embarked in Sydney aboard HMAT "Star of Victoria" on 20th October 1914, for active service overseas.

The 1st Light Horse Regiment (LHR) disembarked in Egypt on 8th December 1914, and commenced a rigorous training program from their base at the Mena Camp.  Since the Light Horse were not considered suitable for the terrain of the Gallipoli peninsula, they weren't committed to that campaign until later, when they were utilised in a dismounted role, in support of the Infantry.  Once committed to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, the 1st LHR embarked in Alexandria on 9th May 1915, arriving at Gallipoli about 6am on the 12th.  After disembarking on the West coast of the peninsula, about 200 yards South of Fisherman's Hut, they bivouacked for the night near Pope's Hill, where they entered the trenches to relieve the 13th Infantry Battalion the following day.  They were deployed in a defensive role, attached to the New Zealand and Australian Division.

At 4.30am on 7th August 1915, as part of the August Offensive, the 1st LHR were involved in an attack from Pope's Hill upon the enemy trenches at the Chessboard, North of Bloody Angle, when Brian performed the action for which he was Mentioned in Despatches, and later awarded the French Croix De Guerre medal.  The recommendation made by the Commanding Officer of the 1st LHR, Major Cecil Granville, on 16th November 1915, read:

"Conspicuous action in carrying bombs across an open, bullet swept space to the firing line from his own trenches & also in bringing back wounded men from same spot at the same time he himself being wounded". 

Brian was promoted to the rank of substantive Corporal on 11th August, having earlier acted in the rank.  On 28th August, he was evacuated sick to hospital, and on 4th September was admitted to St. John's Hospital in Malta with dysentery.  He was transferred to the King George Hospital in London on 16th September.  The 1st LHR withdrew from Gallipoli, along with the rest of the Allied forces, on 21st December 1915, and returned to Egypt where they joined the ANZAC Mounted Division.

Brian was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 1st January 1916.  His Mention in Despatches for his actions at Gallipoli appeared in AIF Orders List No. 30 on 7th February 1916, after which he was sent to attend an Officers' Training Course at the School of Instruction in Zeitoun (Cairo) on 3rd March.  After successful completion of the course, he was sent to Tel-el-Kebir on 29th March on attachment to HQ 10th Field Artillery Brigade, where he was commissioned to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 1st April 1916.

On 8th April 1916, Brian was transferred and taken on strength with the 12th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) in Serapeum, where he was appointed 2IC of the 46th Battery.  On 4th February 1917, Brian attended the 3rd Course of Instruction at the 4th Army Artillery School, in France.  Between the 7th and 14th June 1917, the 12th FAB was part of the artillery support for the 3rd Australian Division in the Battle of Messines, in Belgium.  On 14th June, Brian was evacuated from the field to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in Trois Arbres, with what was subsequently diagnosed as shell shock.  He was transferred to England with "nervous exhaustion" on 21st June, when he was admitted to the Devizes Hospital, in Tidworth.  On 7th July, Brian went to Cobham Hall Convalescent Hospital for AIF officers, in Kent.  From there, he was discharged to Perham Down on 6th August, where he was placed on the seconded list with one of the Australian Training Battalions on the Salisbury Plain.

On 28th August 1917, Brian again proceeded overseas to France, arriving at the Australian General Base Depot in Rouelles on 2nd September.  One week later, he left to rejoin the 12th Field Artillery Brigade, arriving in Dickebusch, Belgium, on 12th September.  Only four days later, Brian was again evacuated, and was subsequently admitted to the 59th General Hospital in St. Omer on 6th October, with shell shock.  Brian was returned to England via the No. 36 Ambulance Train, then Hospital Ship "Jan Breydel" on 10th November.  He was admitted to the Royal Herbert Hospital in Woolwich the following day.  On 22nd November, Brian was transferred back to Cobham Hall Convalescent Hospital in Kent.

On 21st December 1917, Brian embarked in England aboard HMAT "Persic"  for return to Australia for change, due to shell shock and neurosis.  He arrived in Perth on 13th February 1918, where he transferred to the HMAT "Ormonde".  He was subsequently discharged in the 2nd Military District, Sydney, on 13th August 1918, due to the termination of his appointment. Brian was later awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service.  On 1st July 1920, Brian was added to the Reserve of Officers list as a substantive Lieutenant, for the 2nd Military District (NSW).

On 27th January 1932, Brian married Dorothy Edith WARD at the St. Mathius Church in Denman, New South Wales.  They went on to have three children, Beverley Irving KEYS in 1933, Christopher Irving KEYS in 1937, and Peter Irving KEYS.  Sadly, Christopher passed away on 23rd May 1941, aged just 4 years old. 

Sometime after his marriage, Brian went into a joint partnership with his brother in law, Arthur Herbert WARD, carrying on a stock and station agent business called "Keys & Ward".  It operated from 26 O'Connell Street Sydney.  The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent on 9th May 1941, when Arthur retired from the business owing to his War service, leaving Brian to continue to operate alone from the same address.  The business later moved to 8 Spring Street Sydney, and with Brian becoming a qualified Associate of the Commonwealth Institute of Valuers, he expanded to become a licensed stock, station and real estate agent.  He was living in St. Ives in Sydney at this time, until at least late 1950, but moved to Canberra at some stage.

Tragedy again visited upon the KEYS family, when daughter Beverley died in Canberra Community Hospital on 23rd September 1961, the day after being bludgeoned in her sleep by an intruder during a break and enter in a garage unit at the rear of her parent's property in Reid, Australian Capital Territory.  She was only 28 years old.  Her killer was later convicted of murder, and initially sentenced to death by hanging.  He appealed to the High Court and won the right to have a re-trial, but Brian didn't live to see the result, as he passed away suddenly himself in Canberra on 6th October 1962, aged 69.  He was buried in the Woden Cemetery in Phillip, Australian Capital Territory.  His daughter's killer was again convicted of murder at his re-trial, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment on 6th May 1963.

Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia (Service Record);  the Australian War Memorial (1st Light Horse Regt. and 12th Field Artillery Bde. Unit War Diaries);  Births, Deaths and Marriages NSW;  and various newspaper articles on Trove.

KEYS, Brian Irving.—October 6, suddenly, of Gerrilong Gardens, Reid, Canberra. Loved husband of Dorothy and father of Peter. Aged 69 years. No flowers.

KEYS.—The relatives and friends of the late Mr. Brian Irving Keys of 10 Gerrliong Gardens, Reid, are respectfully advised that his funeral will leave the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, Reid, after service to commence at 2.30 p.m. to-day, Monday, for interment in the Returned Soldiers portion of the Canberra Cemetery. By request, no flowers. M. H. O'Rourke, Funeral Director Canberra-Queanbeyan. Phone Qbn 52. A.F.D.A. City Sub-Branch of R.S.S. & A.I.L.A. Members of City Sub-branch are requested to attend the funeral of their late comrade, Brian Irving Keys (original Anzac), which leaves the church of St. John the Baptist, Reid, after prayers commencing at 2.30 p.m. W. BUCKLEY, Secretary.