George VI Coronation Medal : Lieutenant L M Keysor, 1 Battalion, AIF

George VI Coronation Medal. Unnamed as issued.

Leonard Maurice Kyezor (Keyzor, Keysor) was born on 3 November 1885 to Benjamin and Julia Kyezor at their home in Paddington, London. Following schooling at Townley Castle, Ramsgate, he moved to Canada for ten years before joining his sister and brother in Australia just before the outbreak of war. Keyzor was working as a clerk in Sydney when war was declared and he enlisted, under the name Keyzor) at Randwick Racecourse on 18 August 1914 in the newly formed 1st Battalion AIF (1Bn).

On 18 October, as private 958, he embarked with his unit on SS (A19) Afric, to become part of the Australian and New Zealand transport fleet, bound for Egypt. 1 Bn, as part of the 1st Brigade AIF, reached Egypt in early December. After months of training the brigade embarked for Gallipoli. At approximately 7.30 am on 25 April 1915, they moved ashore. On 20 June, Keysor was promoted to lance corporal.

Between 6 and 9 August, 1 Bn took part in the battle of Lone Pine where Keyzor was awarded a Victoria Cross for his actions in throwing bombs (hand grenades), as well as returning live enemy bombs, for nearly fifty hours. Although he was wounded twice he refused to be evacuated and kept fighting until the Turks retired. While being treated for his wounds in Mudros he was diagnosed with enteric fever and was evacuated back to England. He was not considered fit for active service again till November 1916.

On 20 November 1916 he was posted to 42 Battalion and shortly after proceeded with the battalion to France. He was promoted to second lieutenant on 13 January 1917 then to lieutenant on 28 July. On 28 March 1918 he was again wounded in action while fighting at Mericourt-Sailly-Le-Sec. Finally, Keyzor was wounded in a mustard gas attack on 26 May 1918, near Villers-Bretonneux, and was taken off the line for the last time. On 24 August he was one of ten VC recipients who embarked for Australia on HMAT Medic for rest and recreation and to help with the government's recruiting efforts. On 12 December Keyzor was discharged on medical grounds.

In 1920 he returned to London and the following year married Gladys Benjamin, settling near the site of his birthplace in London. Shortly after his arrival in England, he officially changed the spelling of his name to Keysor, in line with the spelling used in the London Gazette's announcement of his Victoria Cross. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Keysor attempted to re-enlist, however, he was rejected on medical grounds. Leonard Maurice Keysor died on 12 October 1951.