Silver Freedom casket

Silver freedom casket presented to Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes (1872-1945) by the Borough of Dover. The front is decorated with two silver panels engraved with portraits of HMS 'Vindictive' and HMS 'Warwick' with the coat of arms of Dover enamelled in the centre with motto 'VILLA ET PORTUS DOVOR'.

The reverse has a silver panel engraved with a view of Dover Harbour, and there are floral sprays on the side panels. The casket has dolphin feet and the lid is surmounted by a figure of St Martin, patron saint of the town, giving his cloak to a beggar.

Inscribed on the lid is: 'PRESENTED TO VICE ADMIRAL SIR ROGER J.B.KEYS. [sic] K.C.B., C.M.G., M.V.O., D.S.O. COMMANDING DOVER PATROL' and in silver letters on an enamel strip on the front of the lid is: 'FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH'. On the front below the arms is 'Saint George's Day 1918'. The casket contains a sealed freedom scroll inscribed to 'Vice Admiral Sir Roger John Brownlow Keyes'.

The presentation commemorates Keyes' role in the Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids 22-23 April 1918. The Freedom of the Borough was presented to Vice-Admiral Keyes in the Connaught Hall, Dover, on 12 December 1918. The Dover Express reported the Mayor's speech: ‘Your name will always be associated with the town of Dover. It is right and fitting that the freedom of this town should be given to one who has done so much in bringing freedom to the world. I have to ask your acceptance of it in this casket from the citizens of the town, and trust that it will remind you for many years to come of their gratitude to you and your officers and men for the protection you have afforded us.’.

Object Details

ID: PLT0076
Collection: Decorative art
Type: Freedom casket
Display location: Display - Forgotten Fighters
Creator: Carrington & Co Ltd
Events: World War I, 1914-1918; World War I: Zeebrugge Raid, 1918
Vessels: Warwick 1917 (HMS); Vindictive (1897)
Date made: 1918; 1918-1919 1918-19
People: Borough of Dover; Keyes, Roger John Brownlow
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 205 x 320 x 165 mm