Lance Sergeant M. A. Keppell, MM; Invercargill; born NZ 15 Mar 1919; chainman. (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. p.578.)

'The flash-spotting base centred on Trocchio was manned for a total of 52 days and nights. Lance-Sergeant Keppell was in command of one OP at the southern end of this feature and he did not leave it once. It was shelled almost every day and on 29 March the enemy scored a direct hit, wounding two men and causing much damage to equipment. Keppell had the wounded attended to and then arranged for a reserve instrument to be brought forward. In a very short time the post was in full operation. In the Orsogna operations he had similarly kept a post in action for 40 days. For this and his work at Trocchio he won an immediate MM. When the battery withdrew to Venafro its record of flash-spotting and sound-ranging locations throughout the period of 52 days was excellent.' (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. p. 578.) AWMM