British soldier’s family were unaware he had died a hero

Saturday, December 12, 2009

A FRENCH town is to honour a British soldier whose family were unaware for 65 years that he died a hero during World War II.

Relatives of Bombardier Robert Key, who died aged 30 in a grenade blast in 1944 while saving the life of a child, had wrongly believed he was "showing off" when he died.

The soldier’s niece, Gill Mills, said the family had now learned he was regarded as a hero in the northern town of Annezin.

The 54-year-old, of Coventry, said Mr Key’s relatives were delighted that a road in Annezin is to be named after him in recognition of his bravery in grabbing a live grenade from a young child moments before it exploded.

She told the Coventry Telegraph: "It was absolutely amazing to find out the locals in Annezin class him as a hero."

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, December 12, 2009