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WW1 Military Cross Gordon Highlanders to an American


Kanemono

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Baldwin L. Keyes, M.D., D.Ss., LL.D. was born in Rio de Janeiro on July 29, 1893, to American parents. His paternal grandfather was a strong supporter of the Confederacy and was a close friend of Jefferson Davis. He invested large amounts of money in the secession government only to lose it in the fortunes of war. He moved his family to Brazil along with 1000 other Confederate Civil War veterans who didn’t like the idea of having to take an oath to “the Yankees” they had been fighting for four years. These settlers established the town of Americana and called themselves “Confederados.” Keyes was reared near Rio and received his early education in mission schools. He spent time in London then came to the United States to complete his education at the University of Pennsylvania.

Keys received his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University in 1917. The day after he graduated Dr. Keyes joined the U.S. Army as a first Lieutenant, Medical Reserve. The British Forces requested 1000 Doctors for combat duty. Dr. Keys volunteered to become a combat surgeon and was assigned to the Gordon Highlanders (8th/10th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, 15th (Scottish) Division, B.E.F.) one of the most decorated British combat units of World War I .Dr. Keys made several daring rescues of soldiers on the battlefield and joked that the only reason he lived was because of his stature, he was five feet tall, he said “they kept shooting over my head.” Dr. Keyes was awarded the Military Cross for Valor in March of 1918 in list No. 27, British War Office, dated September 3, 1918.

British Military Cross awarded by Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, under authority of His Majesty King George V, May 1918

For following act of gallantry:

“On 21st March 1918, When the Battalion (8/10 Gordon Highlanders) was holding the line just S.E. of MONCHY, the front line was under intensive bombardment for several hours. The communication trenches became obliterated and the casualties could not be removed. Lieutenant Keys made his way to the front line through the enemy barrage and attended to many serious cases there, showing complete disregard for his own safety in carrying out his work. During the same fighting on 28th March, 1918, it became necessary to move the Regimental Aid Post to another position. When all the Regimental and attached R.A.M.C. bearers had removed all the cases they could carry, there still remained a number of serious stretcher cases. Lieutenant Keys remained behind and by improvising some stretchers from material at hand, he removed all the cases in the face of the enemy with the help of a few men he collected, himself assisting in the work. If it had not been for his prompt action and fearless behavior the wounded would have been inevitably been taken prisoners. Throughout the heavy fighting at the end of March he worked with untiring zeal and cheerfulness under trying conditions; his fearless conduct was an example and encouragement to all ranks.”

 

Promoted to Captain, Keyes was detached from the British Army, returned to the American Army where he worked as a combat surgeon.

Dr. Keyes served as commanding officer of Jefferson's 38th General Hospital Unit for the U.S. Army in Egypt during World War II. Later, Dr. Keys was responsible for all medical installations in Palestine, Libya, Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea.

After the war Dr. Keys commanded the Army’s School of Military Neuro-Psychiatry and helped train more than 1,100 neuro-psychiatrists for the armed forces. He was promoted to the rank of colonel and retired in July 1954. He served 37 years as a commissioned officer in the Army's Medical Department. Dr. Baldwin L. Keyes died on June 6, 1994. He was the longest living alumnus at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital's School of Medicine, founding chairman of the psychiatry department and professor emeritus.

 

 

 

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An amazing grouping! Hen's teeth comes to mind. Wow! Interesting that he wore the MC at the head of his US medal rack as that would have been out of order of precedence. Probably worn on a blazer.

 

-Ski

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Congratulations on an extremely interesting find ! And, to add to it's desirability, that's quite a lengthy citation for a WW1 M.C.. Very nice indeed.

 

Best, dpast32

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