Career
He was a trainer and committee member for Fitzroy spanning 2 decades until the Second World War. He served for a second time in WW2 having previously served and twice been wounded as a 16-year-old in WW1. Desmond is also remembered for paying the ultimate price for his country on the Fitzroy Football Club website – Fitzroy Football Club Anzac Day Tribute.
Fred"s grandson Terry Keays also played Australian rules football with Collingwood.
Official Australian war records suggest Fred"s age was listed as 1 year greater than his actual year of birth 1899. He would have been only in his 16th year (birthday 12 July 1899) as he completed training in Egypt before being initially deployed with the 8th Battalion (Australia) (November 1915) as reinforcements at Gallipoli before the retreat in December 1915.
He was then wounded, most likely in France at the Battle of Pozièresearch After being wounded for a second time, most likely on the Western Front this time in his lower right leg, he was sent to England to recover before returning home to Fitzroy, Melbourne 1919.
In WW2 his age was recorded as 1 year younger (1900 birth year recorded when it was 1899) thus reporting an age of 39 at enlistment.
In 2015, the centenary of WW1, Collingwood Football Club recognised their 57 South.
In the Second World War, Fred"s family paid a heavy price. With 9 children and 1 adopted son, 5 out of 11 immediate family members including Fred, served for their country, with 1 of the Keays men paying the ultimate sacrifice of life. Gerald Keays, Margaret (Peggy) East Keays, Desmond C Keays, Kevin R Couchman and Fred himself all served long periods from 1939 to 1948.
