Leonard Keysor
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Leonard Keysor VC (also known as "Keyzor") (3 November 1885 - 12 October 1951) was a British recipient in the Australian Imperial Force of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 29 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion (N.S.W.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 7 August 1915 at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, Turkey, Private Keysor was in a trench which was being heavily bombed by the enemy. He picked up two live bombs and threw them back at the enemy at great risk to himself, and continued throwing bombs until wounded. On 8 August at the same place, he successfully bombed the enemy out of a position where they had gained temporarry mastery over his own trench, again being wounded. He refused to go to hospital and, volunteering to throw bombs for another company which had lost its bomb throwers, continued bombing until the situation was relieved.
He later achieved the rank of lieutenant.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Gallipoli (Stephen Snelling, 1995)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Golders Green)
- KEYSOR L.M.
- Lance-Corporal L Keysor (photo, brief details)
