Allied Commander Receives Suez Contingency Assignment
Charles Keightley was informed that he would command British and French forces if the two governments decided to intervene militarily over the canal dispute.
Role range: 1956-1956
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Charles Keightley Biography and Timeline
Follow Charles Keightley through 28 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Charles Keightley, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
28Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1956–1956Years on this page
1956
Operation Musketeer Revise
Prepares to execute the revised Anglo-French operation centred on Port Said
Role range: 1956-1956
Revised Musketeer Assault Plan Approved
Charles Keightley's headquarters refined plans to seize the Port Said area through airborne and seaborne attacks instead of launching a broad campaign across Egypt.
Role range: 1956-1956
El Gamil Selected for Airborne Landing
Charles Keightley's command incorporated El Gamil airfield west of Port Said into the revised airborne plan for Operation Musketeer.
Role range: 1956-1956
Allied Command Designates Port Said Main Objective
Charles Keightley's staff adjusted plans to seize the northern entrance to the Suez Canal through airborne and amphibious operations.
Role range: 1956-1957
Operation Musketeer
Commands Operation Musketeer, the Anglo-French military operation against Egypt
Role range: 1956-1956
Allied Headquarters Directs Port Said Operation
Keightley directs the combined Anglo-French headquarters as the air phase against Egypt begins.
Role range: 1956-1956
Assault Date Confirmed
Keightley confirms final preparations for the airborne and amphibious assault on the canal zone.
Role range: 1956-1956
Port Said Landing Sequence Confirmed
Charles Keightley's command prepared an airborne seizure of access points near Port Said ahead of the main amphibious landing.
Role range: 1956-1956
El Gamil Assault Scheduled for First Light
Charles Keightley confirmed the plan to drop British paratroopers at El Gamil on the morning of 5 November.
Role range: 1956-1956
Airborne Phase Released
Keightley authorises the airborne assault phase that places British and French paratroopers around Port Said and Port Fuad.
Role range: 1956-1956
British Paratroopers Capture El Gamil Airfield
Charles Keightley's allied command deployed the British Third Parachute Battalion to seize El Gamil airfield west of Port Said.
Role range: 1956-1956
Airborne Beachhead Supports Planned Seaborne Landing
Charles Keightley's command used the capture of El Gamil to establish a foothold before amphibious forces landed the next day.
Role range: 1956-1956
Advance Halted by Ceasefire
Keightley orders forces to stop advancing when political leaders accept the ceasefire.
Role range: 1956-1956
Amphibious Assault Authorised
Keightley authorises the seaborne assault reinforcing forces already fighting around Port Said.
Role range: 1956-1956
Ceasefire Order
Receives orders to halt the advance after international pressure forces a ceasefire
Role range: 1956-1956
Allied Advance Stopped after Ceasefire Decision
Keightley implements political orders ending the offensive while Allied ground forces are still advancing south from Port Said.
Role range: 1956-1956
Amphibious Phase Released
Keightley directs the transition from airborne operations to the main amphibious assault on the canal-zone cities.
Role range: 1956-1956
Helicopters Deliver Marines Into Port Said
Charles Keightley's invasion forces used shipborne helicopters to insert Royal Marines, demonstrating a notable new method of amphibious troop deployment.
Role range: 1956-1956
Musketeer Advance Halted Before Canal Capture
Charles Keightley's forces stopped their southward advance as the ceasefire prevented the allies from occupying the entire Suez Canal.
Role range: 1956-1956
El Gamil Landing Becomes Allied Entry Point
Charles Keightley's airborne plan provided the British force with a secure entry point before the ceasefire halted further expansion.
Role range: 1956-1956
Advance Down Canal Stops After Ceasefire
Charles Keightley's forces stopped their planned movement south of Port Said before the whole canal could be occupied.
Role range: 1956-1957
Allied Commander Receives Stop Advance Orders
Charles Keightley implemented orders to stop the southward advance of British and French troops in Egypt.
Role range: 1956-1957
Occupation Zone Stabilised
Keightley stabilises the limited Anglo-French occupation area while withdrawal terms are negotiated.
Role range: 1956-1956
Allied Command Reviews Airfield Occupation
Charles Keightley's headquarters had to sustain the captured northern canal positions while governments negotiated a withdrawal.
Role range: 1956-1956
United Nations Troops Begin Replacing Invaders
Charles Keightley's command faced the arrival of United Nations personnel as arrangements began for replacing Anglo-French forces with an international emergency force.
Role range: 1956-1956
Allied Evacuation From Port Said Completed
Charles Keightley's forces completed the British and French withdrawal from Egypt, ending the military occupation established during Operation Musketeer.
Role range: 1956-1956
Final Allied Troops Depart Port Said
The Anglo French operation ended with evacuation of the remaining occupying forces and the transition to Egyptian authority.
Role range: 1956-1957
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.