Jim Crossley

“An interesting biography of one of Britain’s most unusual admirals” (The NYMAS Review).

Roger Keyes was the archetype of 19th to 20th century Royal Navy officers. A superb seaman, inspiring leader, and fearless fighter he immediately caught the eye of senior figures in the naval establishment, as well as an up-and-coming politician, Winston Churchill. The relationship between these two brave men survived disappointment, disagreement, and eventually disillusion. Unlike some of his contemporaries, Keyes was unable to make the transition from sailor to politician and was inclined to embarrass his friends and allies by his intemperate language and total lack of political acumen. Always eager to lead from the front and hurl himself at the enemy his mind set tended to be that of a junior officer trying to prove himself, not that of a senior Admiral.

Trained in some of the last of Britain’s sailing warships, Keyes served in submarines in the North Sea, destroyers in China, and as a senior staff officer in the disastrous Gallipoli campaign. As commander of the Dover Patrol, he planned and led the highly controversial Zeebrugge Raid and successfully combated U-boats passing along the English Channel. In World War II, he begged to be given a combat command, but despite their close personal friendship, Churchill realized that he was too old to be suitable for a front-line role and his undisguised contempt for many senior Naval and Airforce officers made him extremely unpopular in official circles.

To his credit, Churchill did not let his personal friendship and admiration of Keyes blind him to his temperamental and intellectual limitations. Both men were big enough not to let professional conflict destroy mutual personal admiration and friendship.

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