Sidney Keyes

Keyes was born May 27, 1922.[1] His mother died shortly afterwards and he was raised by his paternal grandparents.[2] Keyes started writing poetry when still very young, with Wordsworth, Rilke and Jung among his main influences.[2] 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.[2][3] While at college, Keyes wrote the only two books of his lifetime, The Cruel Solstice and The Iron Laurel.[4] 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.[2]

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.[2]

Keyes left Oxford and joined the army in April 1942,[5] entering active service that same year.[6] He was sent with the Queens Own West Kent Regiment to fight in the Tunisia Campaign of World War II in March 1943.[2][7] 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.[5] During combat, he was reported to have continued writing poetry. However, these works have not survived.[8]

Keyes fought and died in action on 29 April 1943, covering his platoon's retreat during a counter-attack,[2] shortly before his 21st birthday.[7] It has also been stated that he died at the hands of the enemy, following his capture.[9]