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Battle of Keren
Battle of Keren was part of the East African Campaign and took place from 5th of February to 1st of April 1941.
The Battle of Keren took place from 5 February to 1 April 1941. It was named for a strategically important town in Eritrea, which was then part of Italian colonial East Africa and was itself of great strategic importance due to its control of the southern Red Sea and, thereby, access to the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aden. The battle was a critical engagement in the East African Campaign being fought in the general Horn of Africa region between British Imperial and Commonwealth forces and Axis forces consisting of Italian regular and colonial units. The British order of battle at Keren included the 4th and 5th Indian Infantry Divisions, the Free French Brigade of the East, and British Sudan headquarters units. The battle resulted in an Allied victory that led shortly afterward to the Allied capture of the Eritrean port of Massawa and the opening of the lower Red Sea to Allied shipping.
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Those known to have fought in Battle of Keren during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Baker MC MID.. Geoffrey Harding. Field Marshall.
- Nelson John Murdoch McGilvray. Pte.
- Ram VC.. Richhpal. Sbdr. (d.12th Feb 1941)
- Scaringi Giovanni.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
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Want to know more about Battle of Keren? There are:1 items tagged Battle of Keren available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Pte. John Murdoch McGilvray Nelson 2nd Btn. Highland Light Infantry John Nelson served in the East African Expeditionary Force, was taken a prisoner of war at the Battle of Keren. He died in Glasgow in 1949 aged 36.
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Giovanni Scaringi My father, Giovanni Scaringi, born in 1913, was an Italian POW at Hartwell Dog Track, Aylesbury from 1942 to 1946. He was a soldier at the Battle of Keren in Ethiopia in 1941. Does anyone remember him?
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Sbdr. Richhpal Ram VC. 4th Battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles (d.12th Feb 1941) Richhpal Ram enrolled on the 20 August 1920 in 4/6th Rajputana Rifles.
He was 41 years old, and a Subedar when he was awarded the VC.
The official citation for the award, published in the London Gazette on 4 July 1941 reads:
"The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned:
Subadar Richpal Ram, 6th Rajputana Rifles, Indian Army.
During the assault on enemy positions in front of Keren, Eritrea, on the night of 7-8th February, 1941, Subadar Richpal Ram, who was second-in-command of a leading company, insisted on accompanying the forward platoon and led its attack on the first objective with great dash and gallantry. His company commander being then wounded, he assumed command of the company, and led the attack of the remaining two platoons to the final objective. In face of heavy fire, some thirty men with this officer at their head rushed the objective with the bayonet and captured it. The party was completely isolated, but under the inspiring leadership of Subadar Richpal Ram, it beat back six enemy counter-attacks between midnight and 0430 hours. By now, ammunition had run out, and this officer extricated his command and fought his way back to his battalion with a handful of survivors through the surrounding enemy.
Again, in the attack on the same position on 12th February, this officer led the attack of his company. He pressed on fearlessly and determinedly in the face of heavy and accurate fire, and by his personal example inspired his company with his resolute spirit until his right foot was blown off. He then suffered further wounds from which he died. While lying wounded he continued to wave his men on, and his final words were 'We'll capture the objective'. The heroism, determination and devotion to duty shown by this officer were beyond praise, and provided an inspiration to all who saw him."
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