Fred Keays Explained

Fred Keays
Fullname:Frederick William Keays
Birth Date:12 July 1898
Birth Place:Richmond, Victoria
Death Place:Newcomb, Victoria
Originalteam:Army / Fitzroy District
Height:178 cm
Weight:72 kg
Statsend:1922
Years1:1919–20
Games Goals1:5 (1)
Years2:1922
Games Goals2:3 (0)
Games Goalstotal:8 (1)

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]

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]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: FOOTBALL. . . Melbourne . 27 April 1922 . 1 April 2015 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  2. https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/list-by-year/1922/ Collingwood Football Club Web Site – Playing List For 1922 Season
  3. Web site: Trove. Digital Newspapers Online. The Stawell Gift – Record Entries Received . The Chronicle . Adelaide. 19 March 1927. 24 March 2015.
  4. Web site: Trove. Digital Newspapers Online. IT WAS HARDLY FOOTBALL WEATHER . The Argus . Melbourne. 14 February 1939. 24 March 2015.
  5. Web site: Trove. Digital Newspapers Online. STAN MOLAN PASSES. The Sporting Globe . Australia. 30 June 1943. 24 March 2015.
  6. Web site: Trove. Digital Newspapers Online. Role Of Honour – Victorian List – Wounded . Weekly Times . Australia. 17 December 1917. 24 March 2015.
  7. Web site: Trove. Digital Newspapers Online. Anzacs Welcomed Home . The Independent . Footscray. 19 October 1918. 24 March 2015.
  8. Web site: Frederick William Keays .
  9. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P02468.305 Desmond Charles Keays
  10. Web site: Trove. Digital Newspapers Online. List Of Interstate Army Casualties . The Advertiser. Australia, Adelaide. 24 July 1942. 24 March 2015.
  11. https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/players/terry-keays/ Terry Keays
  12. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/brisbane/ben-keays-has-plenty-of-footballing-history-in-his-family-as-he-makes-his-afl-debut/news-story/7105d689d9cdd9395cdad0704a0f5be0 Ben Keays has plenty of footballing history in his family as he makes his AFL debut
  13. Web site: 8th Battalion AIF .
  14. Web site: 15th Australian Infantry Battalion .
  15. Web site: Our 57 ANZACs Collingwood Forever . forever.collingwoodfc.com.au . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150425042349/http://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/our-57-anzacs . 2015-04-25.

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