Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Air Crew Europe Star, reverse engraved ‘J-9738 F/O Robert J. Keyes 199 SQDN. R.A.F.’, very fine £200-240

Robert Joseph Keyes was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada in March 1918. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in November 1940, and subsequently qualified as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. Keyes was commissioned in January 1942, and embarked for the UK the following month. He was initially posted as a Wireless Operator to 150 Squadron (Wellingtons), before being posted for operational flying to 199 Squadron (Wellingtons), Blyton, in November of the same year. Keyes flew in a number of mine-laying operations with the Squadron before 13/14 February 1943, when he was killed with the rest of his crew during a raid on Lorient. The entire crew are buried in the Guidel Communal Cemetery, Brittany.

Sold with copied research, and correspondence about Keyes, between a collector, the Ministry of Defence and the Public Archives of Canada, all dated in 1971.