RODERICK LEOPOLD KELLER M.C.

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Grave/Memorial:  		Keller, R L

12 September 1892, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

Ernst Leopold and Evelyn (née Robins)

Royal Warwickshire Regiment, attached to Royal Flying Corps

2090

Lieutenant/temporary Captain

15 August 1918, London Colney Aerodrome, Middlesex, England

Saint Botolph's Churchyard, Shenley, Hertsmere, Hertfordshire		    

Biography:
Roderick Leopold Keller was born on 12 September 1892 at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. He was the son of Ernst Leopold, a
naturalised (in 1912) German citizen and diamond merchant, and Evelyn Relie (née Robins).

By 1905, the family had moved to Woking, living at Hook Heath.

Roderick was commissioned into the army on 15 August 1914, being appointed a 2nd
Lieutenant (on probation), in the 4th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, after
graduating from the Officers Training Corps. 4th Battalion was part of the Special Reserve. [The
Special Reserve came into existence through the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907. The introduction of the
Special Reserve was accompanied by the elimination of the existing Militia. The role of the Special Reserve was
essentially in training men who could transfer to the regular units to bring them up to war establishment, and after
that to make good any wastage in those units (casualties and losses for any other reason).]

In April 1915, Roderick disembarked, in France, probably joining the 1st Battalion. He was
mentioned in dispatches (London Gazette 1 Jan 1916) for ‘gallant and distinguished service in the field’. He was promoted to Lieutenant, effective 31 December 1915.

In January 1916, Roderick went to the No 1 School of Military Aeronautics, a World War I training school for the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) [The Royal Flying Corps amalgamated with the Royal
Naval Flying Service on 1 April 1918, to form the Royal Air Force], based in Reading.

After 12 weeks at Reading, Roderick was sent to 3 Reserve Squadron, based at Shoreham on
   
the south coast of England, for basic flying training. On 1 May 1916 he was posted to 40 Squadron, at Gosport, Hampshire. On 1 June he was appointed Flying Officer.

On 28 April 1917, Roderick was promoted to Flight Commander (with the army rank of Temporary Captain).
In September 1917, Roderick Keller was awarded the Military Cross.


Roderick Leopold Keller was killed in a flying accident at London Colney Aerodrome, Middlesex,
on 15 August 1918. He was flying a new type of aircraft. At 5000 feet, he performed a manoeuvre
known as ‘spinning’. He attempted the same at 1000 feet but apparently lost control of the aircraft
and crashed into the ground.

Roderick is buried in the South-west corner of Shenley (St. Botolph) Churchyard.