Lest we forget – Lance Corporal Matthew Keith Sillars

From the very early entries in my Grandfather’s diary, he has mentioned his brother Keith a number of times. Keith died in action 25 November 1941 and is buried at Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery in Egypt. Keith was married to Joan Elizabeth Wilson, I am unsure if they had children.

My grandfather didn’t find out his brother was killed in action until 31st December 1941, even though he was himself was just a very short distance away fighting in Operation Crusader.

My grandfather visited Keith’s grave while he was serving in Libya and took these photos.

While I was in Dunedin, I found Keith’s name on the wall of those lost during WW2 from the Otago region. As he wasn’t from Otago, but Canterbury, I asked, and the best reason they could offer was that he enlisted while in Dunedin – his wife Joan was from Dunedin.