Leonard Keysor

Leonard Maurice Keysor VC was a Britishborn Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Born in England, Keysor emigrated to Australia shortly before the outbreak of the First World War. He 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. OnAugust 1915 at Lone Pine, while serving as an acting lancecorporal, 29yearold Keysor performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Later in the war he took part in the fighting in France, serving in the trenches along the Western Front. He would later achieve the rank of lieutenant before being discharged from the army on medical grounds at the end of the war.

Leonard Maurice Keysor was born Leonard Maurice Kyezor onNovember 1885 in Maida Vale, London. He was the third of five children of Benjamin Kyezor, a Jewish clock importer, and Julia Benjamin. Keysor was educated at Townley Castle in Ramsgate. After completing his studies, Keysor travelled to Canada in 1904 where he remained for a period of ten years before emigrating to Australia in 1914 where his brother Stanley and sister Madge were living. He undertook clerical work in Sydney, New South Wales. He was the uncle of British actress and comedian, Rita Webb.

Source: Wikipedia