Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An interesting and well-documented campaign group of four awarded to Private R. C. Keyte, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who served with H.M.S. Marlborough during the Allied Intervention in Russia, and was present aboard when she evacuated the Russian Imperial Family from Yalta, 7 April 1919

British War and Victory Medals (Ply. 18638 Pte. R. C. Keyte. R.M.L.I.); Defence Medal; Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Robert Charles Keyte) last in Royal Mint case of issue, generally good very fine or better (4) £300-£400

Robert Charles Keyte was born in King’s Cross, London, in April 1898, and attested for the Royal Marines at Scotland Yard, in December 1915. He served with the battleship H.M.S. Marlborough, 1 January 1917 - 18 December 1919, and during the latter part of this period she served in the Black Sea as part of the Allied Intervention in Russia. The Marlborough evacuated members of the Russian Imperial Family from Yalta, 7 April 1919, with Keyte’s diary recording:

‘Arrive at Yalta & land to fight Bolshevists, Russian Royalty come on board as refugees...

12th Arrive at Halki near Constantinople.

16th Grand Duke Nicholas & Staff leave for Russia.’

Having delivered the Russian Imperial Family, the Marlborough returned to action in May and was employed in providing bombardment in support of the White forces:

‘5th May Leave Constantinople for Black Sea.

7th Arrive at Theodosia in the Crimea & open fire on the Bolsheviks 6” & 13.5” to prevent them reaching the main land...

9th Destroyer puts 8 armoured cars out of action. Heavy bombardment by this ship & E. of I. on railway junction, bridge etc. Bolsheviks unable to cross danger zone.’ (Ibid)

Keyte was discharged, 7 January 1920. In later life he was employed as a Postman and resided at 17 Devonshire Road, Edmonton, London. Keyte died in June 1969.

Sold with the following related items and documents: Silver Cigarette Case, hallmarks for Birmingham 1918, lid engraved ‘R. Keyte from The Empress Marie, The Grand Duke Nicholas, and the Imperial Family of Russia on board H.M.S. “Marlborough’, April 1919’; Locket stamped ‘rolled gold’, containing photographs of recipient in uniform, one as a young man, one in later life, glass cracked on one side; named card box of issue for Great War awards; enclosure slip for Defence Medal; Attestation Papers; Parchment Certificate of Service; Certificate of Discharge; Certificate of Identity; Royal Marines Third Class Certificate of Education, dated 7 March 1916; Royal Marines Swimming Certificate, dated 21 February 1916; Pocket Diary, loosely covering the period 11 November 1918 - 5 December 1919; Proclamation of Thanks to the Royal Navy from General-Lieutenant Borovsky, Commander of the Voluntary Army of the Crimy [sic] and Azoff, dated 12-25 May 1919; a quantity of photographs, the majority of a family nature, some of recipient in uniform (both the of the Royal Marines for the Great War, and of the Royal Artillery for the Second) and a few from H.M.S. Marlborough; packet of unused ‘V’ cigarettes and a copy of The Russian Court at Sea by F. Welch.