Fred Keays

Frederick William Keays (12 July 1898 – 24 June 1983) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy (1919–1921) and Collingwood (in the 1922 VFL season)[1][2] in the Victorian Football League (VFL). After his playing career, Fred competed in the 1927 Stawell Gift won by his rival at that time, Tom Miles.[3] He was a trainer and committee member for Fitzroy spanning two decades[4][5] until the Second World War. He served for a second time in WW2 having previously served and twice been wounded[6] as a 16-year-old ANZAC in WW1.[7][8]

Fred Keays
Fred Keays in Egypt prior to Gallipoli, France combat
Personal information
Full name Frederick William Keays
Date of birth (1898-07-12)12 July 1898
Place of birth Richmond, Victoria
Date of death 24 June 1983(1983-06-24) (aged 84)
Place of death Newcomb, Victoria
Original team(s) Army / Fitzroy District
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 72 kg (159 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1919–20 Fitzroy 5 (1)
1922 Collingwood 3 (0)
Total 8 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1922.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Keays eldest son, Desmond Charles Keays[9] enlisted in 1941, was reported as missing in July 1942[10] and died in 1945 as a POW at Sandakan camp. Desmond is also remembered for paying the ultimate price for his country on the Fitzroy Football Club website – Fitzroy Football Club Anzac Day Tribute.

Fred Keays' grandson Terry Keays also played Australian rules football with Collingwood.[11] His great-grandson Ben Keays is a current Australian rules footballer with Adelaide.[12]

ANZAC

Keays was only in his 17th year as he completed training in Egypt before being initially deployed with the 8th Battalion (Australia) (November 1915) as reinforcements[13] at Gallipoli before the retreat in December 1915. He was then wounded, most likely in France at the Battle of Pozières. After being wounded for a second time, most likely on the Western Front this time in his lower right leg, he was sent to England to recover before returning home to Fitzroy, Melbourne 1919. In WW2 his age was recorded as one year younger (1900 birth year recorded when it was 1899) thus reporting an age of 39 at enlistment.[14][15]

Immediate family war service

In the Second World War, Fred Keays' family paid a heavy price. With nine children and one adopted son, five out of 11 immediate family members including Fred, served for their country, with one of the Keays men paying the ultimate sacrifice of life. Gerald Keays, Margaret (Peggy) E Keays, Desmond C Keays, Kevin R Couchman and Fred himself all served long periods from 1939 to 1948.

1915 Fred's enlistment record for WW1
1922 VFL season Collingwood team after one of the games
1942 Malaya F. W. Keays and G. Keays WW2
Family MemberWW1WW2
Fred Keays1915–1918 Gallipoli Campaign & France (Battle of Pozières) & finally Battle of Passchendaele Western Front[16]1940–1945
Gerald Keays (son)N/A1942–1946 Field Ambulance
Margaret Eileen Keays (daughter)N/A1939–1948 Nurse
Desmond Charles Keays (son)N/A1941–1945 Malaya[17]** Died as POW at Sandakan camp
Kevin R Couchman (adopted son)N/AMalaya POW Returned Sept 1945[18]

References
  1. "FOOTBALL". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 27 April 1922. p. 5. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. Collingwood Football Club Web Site – Playing List For 1922 Season
  3. Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (19 March 1927). "The Stawell Gift – Record Entries Received". The Chronicle. Adelaide. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  4. Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (14 February 1939). "IT WAS HARDLY FOOTBALL WEATHER". The Argus. Melbourne. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  5. Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (30 June 1943). "STAN MOLAN PASSES". The Sporting Globe. Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  6. Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (17 December 1917). "Role Of Honour – Victorian List – Wounded". Weekly Times. Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  7. Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (19 October 1918). "Anzacs Welcomed Home". The Independent. Footscray. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  8. https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1982753/
  9. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P02468.305
  10. Digital Newspapers Online, Trove (24 July 1942). "List Of Interstate Army Casualties". The Advertiser. Australia, Adelaide. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  11. Terry Keays Collingwood Football Club
  13. http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww1/1aif/1div/02bde/8th_battalion_aif.htm
  14. https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U51455/
  15. https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/our-57-anzacs/
  16. Official War Record – Australian War Memorial
  17. Official War Record – Malaya Campaign – Australian War Memorial
  18. "REPAIRS UNDER WAY AT SINGAPORE". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 22 September 1945. p. 1. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  • Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 465. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
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