1. Leonard Keysor enlisted in the First Australian Imperial Force in August 1914 and served in Egypt before landing at Gallipoli, Turkey at the beginning of the campaign.
17 Facts About Leonard Keysor
1. 2.
On 7 August 1915 at Lone Pine, while serving as an acting lance-corporal, 29-year-old Leonard Keysor performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
3.
Leonard Keysor remained in Australia until early 1919 working as a clerk in Sydney, New South Wales before returning to England where he began a career in business.
4.
Leonard Keysor was the third of five children of Benjamin Kyezor, a Jewish clock importer, and Julia Benjamin.
5.
Leonard Keysor undertook clerical work in Sydney, New South Wales.
6.
Leonard Keysor was the cousin of British actress and comedienne, Rita Webb.
7.
Leonard Keysor had only been in Australia for about three months when the First World War broke out.
8.
Leonard Keysor enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 18 August 1914 as a private and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, which was forming at Randwick.
9.
Later, despite being wounded and ordered to seek medical attention, Leonard Keysor continued to remain in the line, volunteering to throw bombs for another company.
10.
Leonard Keysor eventually rejoined the 1st Battalion after they had been transferred to France in early 1916.
11.
In March 1916 Leonard Keysor took part in the Battle of Pozieres.
12.
On 28 March 1918 Leonard Keysor was wounded and was evacuated from the line before returning to take part in the fighting at Villers-Bretonneux, where he was gassed on 26 May 1918.
13.
In October 1918 when manpower levels in the AIF reached critical level, Leonard Keysor returned to Australia to head up a recruiting campaign.
14.
Leonard Keysor was discharged from the army on medical grounds on 12 December 1918.
15.
In 1927 Leonard Keysor re-enacted his exploits at Gallipoli in the film For Valour, during which he was injured.
16.
Leonard Keysor remained on the Australian Military Forces list of inactive reserve officers in 1939 when the Second World War began Keysor attempted to rejoin the military, but was rejected on medical grounds.
17.
Leonard Keysor was survived by his wife and their daughter Joan.