Leonard Maurice Keysor (1885–1951)
Lieutenant Leonard Maurice Keysor, 65, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, in August, 1915, died in London yesterday.
Lieutenant Keysor received the V.C. for catching Turkish bombs as if they were cricket balls and throwing them back at the Turks.
Born in London, he went to Canada as a young man, but after spending several years there decided to go to New South Wales to live.
When the First World War broke out he enlisted and went to Gallipoli as a private in the First Battalion Australian Imperial Horse.
After the war ended he returned to Australia for a time, took a commission, and was placed upon the reserve of officers for the Australian Military Forces.
Original publication
Additional Resources
- World War I service record, B2455, item Keyzor Leonard (National Archives of Australia)
- is suffering from enteric fever, Sydney Morning Herald, 7 January 1916, p 10
- Private J. Tallon was in the same trench at Gallipoli as Keysor, Sydney Morning Herald, 5 May 1916, p 8
- is taking part in a campaign for recruits, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 October 1918, p 6
- a burglar returns Keysor's VC medal by post, Advertiser (Adelaide), 28 October 1920, p 7
- is suing a film producer for injuries received in a re-enactment of the Gallipoli bombing episode, for which he won the VC , Sydney Morning Herald, 20 November 1928, p 10
- report on the trial, Brisbane Courier, 21 November 1928, p 16
- Keysor is awarded 675 pds damage, Cairns Post (Qld), 22 November 1928, p 8
- is to attend a dinner hosted by the Prince of Wales in honour of VC winners, Geraldton Guardian and Express (WA), 11 October 1929, p 1
- takes part in a Jewish ex-serviceman's rememberance parade in London, West Australian, 10 November 1936, p 16
Related Entries in NCB Sites
Citation details
'Keysor, Leonard Maurice (1885–1951)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/keysor-leonard-maurice-6946/text25037, accessed 14 September 2024.
Leonard Keysor, 1918
Australian War Memorial, D00021
Life Summary [details]
Alternative Names
- Keyzor, Leonard Maurice
Birth
3 November,
1885
London,
Middlesex,
England
Death
12 October,
1951
(aged 65)
London,
Middlesex,
England
Cause of Death
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.
Occupation
Military Service
- World War I
- Battle of Pozieres, 1916
- Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, 1918
- Dardanelles campaign, 1915-16
- Landing at Anzac Cove, 1915
- 1st Battalion
- 42nd Battalion