William George Keys – Royal Marines, Royal Marines Medical Unit, Royal Navy Division
Private William George Keys – Royal Marines, Royal Marines Medical Unit, Royal Navy Division
Early Life
William George Keys was born in 1888 in Llandyfodwy,
Glamorgan, the son of William Keys and Elizabeth Barlett.
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| 1891 Census |
The 1891 Census records the Keys family living at 9 Blandy Terrace, Llantrisant. William (51), born in Monmouthshire, worked as a Coal Miner, while his wife Elizabeth (51) managed the home. Their children were Mary F. (18), Elizabeth A. (13), and William G. (3). Also present were Elizabeth’s brother, Joseph C. Barlett (48), and his sons William J. (18) and George F. (15).
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| 1901 Census |
By 1901, the family remained at No. 9 Blandy Terrace. William (68) continued his work as a Coal Miner, and Elizabeth (66) remained at home. Living with them were two children listed as “granddaughter”—William G. (13) and Anne (9). The household also included Joseph C. Barlett (26), Frank Sinclair (18) (boarder), and Frank Bridges (27) with his wife Elizabeth A. (23).
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| 1911 Census |
By the 1911 Census, William George Keys was living as a boarder at 6 Blandy Terrace, Gilfach Goch, in the home of Alber and Frances Hale. His occupation was recorded as Coal Hewer, continuing the family's mining tradition.
Military Service
William George later enlisted in the Royal Marines,
serving as a Private with the Royal Marines Medical Unit, part of
the Royal Navy Division, which fought as infantry during the First
World War.
Royal Marines Medical Unit – Gallipoli
The Royal Marines Medical Unit, part of the Royal
Naval Division, provided medical support to Royal Marines and Naval
battalions fighting on land. Its personnel treated casualties under fire,
staffed frontline dressing stations, and worked in extremely
hazardous conditions throughout the Gallipoli campaign. On 7th
May 1915, during heavy fighting around Lancashire Landing, Cape
Helles, the Division faced relentless shellfire and rifle attacks as
Turkish forces attempted to halt the Allied advance. It was during this period
of intense action that Private William George Keys was killed. He is
buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery, among many who fell during the
earliest and bloodiest phase of the campaign.
Medical orderlies and stretcher‑bearers of the Unit often
worked within yards of the front line, tending the wounded while exposed
to sniper fire, shrapnel, and continuous bombardment.
Dressing stations were typically improvised, offering little protection.
The terrain around Cape Helles — steep gullies, rocky slopes, and
exposed beaches — made evacuation extremely dangerous. Stretcher teams operated
in scorching heat, with scarce water and limited medical
supplies, often carrying the wounded over long distances under fire.
By early May, the Division had suffered severe casualties.
Fighting was continuous, and medical personnel were frequently
overwhelmed. On 7th May, casualty rates surged as Turkish
forces intensified their attacks, hitting trenches, beaches, and medical posts.
Reports from the day describe beaches being swept by shellfire, wounded
men lying exposed awaiting evacuation, and medical staff being struck down
while attempting to reach the injured. It was within this unbroken
environment of danger and hardship that Private Keys lost his life.
Death and Commemoration
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| British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records |
The British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records confirm that Private William George Keys was killed in action on 7th May 1915. He lies buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli, where he is commemorated alongside many others who fell during the early stages of the campaign. His sacrifice remains an enduring part of the story of the Royal Naval Division and the Royal Marines Medical Unit, whose courage at Gallipoli stands as a testament to their devotion to duty
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