A Wollongong World War II veteran, and one of the last remaining survivors of the sunken HMAS Canberra, was laid to rest on Friday.
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Alan Fletcher Keys had to scramble for his life when Canberra sunk in the Solomon Islands on August 9, 1942 – a day shy of his 18th birthday.
The ordeal wasn’t the end for the boy seaman; he continued his service aboard the ship’s replacement and then moved through the ranks to become a first-class seaman.
On Friday, the contribution Mr Keys, who died last week at the age of 93, made to the Royal Australian Navy was recognised at his funeral.
Mr Keys’ son, Colin, said the Navy classified his dad as “a national treasure”.
Mr Keys was also a founding member of the Western Suburbs Leagues Club at Unanderra and served as a Wollongong City Council alderman.
Seaman remembers best and worst of war service
How the Mercury told Mr Key’s story in November 12, 1999.
Despite being bedridden for the past six days with a cold, there was no way World War II veteran Alan Keys was going to miss yesterday's Remembrance Day service.
The 75-year-old stood proudly alongside his mates at Wollongong Cenotaph singing the national anthem.
As always, the line "our home is girt by sea" brought a bright smile to the veteran's face, reminding him of his time on the ocean with the Royal Australian Navy.
"I have spent some of the best times of my life on the water," Mr Keys recalled fondly.
He had also spent some of the worst times on board all three of the RAN's heavy cruisers, HMAS Canberra, Shropshire and Australia.
A time he will never forget was the day before his 18th birthday on August 9, 1942.
It was the day the boy seaman was forced to scramble for his life when Canberra was sunk in the Solomon Islands during World War II.
"I spent my 18th birthday stretcher-bearing and laying out the dead," he said.
After surviving the sinking of Canberra he continued his service aboard Shropshire, Canberra's replacement.
He witnessed the death of eight more naval officers, including the captain and commander of HMAS Australia, when they were hit by enemy fire less than three months after the tragedy aboard Canberra.
During his time at sea he went from boy seaman at the age of 17 through the ranks to first-class seaman.
Fifty-six years later he received his medal of decoration for his service on Canberra.
The shiny silver medal would always take pride of place among the swag of colours worn on his lapel, he said.
The war veteran, who travelled to schools to talk about his service in the Navy, said he was always amazed when young children told him they wanted to grow up and have medals just like him.
"I tell them that I hope when they grow up they don't have to go to war and witness the death of their mates like we did," he said.
"People who have experienced war are in no hurry to do it again."
- Danielle Woolage
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
