Sidney Keyes
| Sidney Keyes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 May 1922 |
| Died | 29 April 1943 (aged 20) Tunisia |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
| Notable awards | Hawthornden Prize |
Sidney Arthur Kilworth Keyes (27 May 1922 – 29 April 1943, Tunisia) was an English poet of World War II.
Keyes was born May 27, 1922. His mother died shortly afterwards and he was raised by his paternal grandparents. Keyes started writing poetry when still very young, with Wordsworth, Rilke and Jung among his main influences. He attended Dartford Grammar School and then boarded at Tonbridge School (Hillside, 1935-1940) during his secondary education, after which he won a history scholarship to Queen's College, Oxford. While at college, Keyes wrote the only two books of his lifetime, The Cruel Solstice and The Iron Laurel. During his time in Oxford, Keyes fell in love with the young German artist Milein Cosman, but his love was not returned. He also befriended fellow poets John Heath-Stubbs and Michael Meyer, edited The Cherwell magazine, and formed a dramatic society.
The Iron Laurel was published in 1942, when Keyes was 20 years old. His poetry was also published in The New Statesman, The Listener and other poetry journals.
Keyes left Oxford and joined the army in April 1942, entering active service that same year. He was sent with the Queens Own West Kent Regiment to fight in the Tunisia Campaign of World War II in March 1943. Prior to his service, Keyes had already written more than half of the 110 poems that would later be gathered in The Collected Poems of Sidney Keyes. During combat, he was reported to have continued writing poetry. However, these works have not survived.
Keyes fought and died in action on 29 April 1943, covering his platoon's retreat during a counter-attack, shortly before his 21st birthday. It has also been stated that he died at the hands of the enemy, following his capture.
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