Leonard James Keyworth

Leonard James Keyworth
Born	12 August 1893 Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England
Died	19 October 1915 (aged 22) Abbeville, France
Buried	Abbeville Communal Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1914–1915
Rank	Corporal
Unit	London Regiment
Battles/wars	World War I Western Front  †
Awards	Victoria Cross Medal of St. George (2nd Class) (Russia)

Leonard James Keyworth VC (12 August 1893 – 19 October 1915) was an English recipient 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.

Details

Son of James and Emma Keyworth, of Lincoln. He was a Lance-Corporal in the 24th (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s), The London Regiment, British Army during the First World War.

On 25/26 May 1915 at Givenchy, France, 21-year-old Keyworth performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Others involved in that incident were Captain Donald Figg and Private Herbert John Hodgson. Keyworth was also awarded the Medal of St. George (2nd Class) of Russia.

Citation

For most conspicuous bravery at Givenchy on the night of 25–26th May, 1915. After the assault on the German position by the 24th Battalion, London Regt, efforts were made by that Unit to follow up their success by a bomb attack, during the progress of which 58 men out of a total 75 became casualties. During this very fierce encounter Lance-Cpl Keyworth stood fully exposed for 2 hours on the top of the enemy's parapet, and threw about 150 bombs amongst the Germans, who were only a few yards away.

— London Gazette, 2 July 1915

He later achieved the rank of Corporal, but was killed in action at Abbeville, France, on 19 October 1915. He is buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery.

Further information

This medal is currently in a private collection.

Bibliography

• Batchelor, Peter; Matson, Christopher (2011). The Western Front 1915. VCs of the First World War. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-6057-4.
• Oldfield, Paul (2015). Victoria Crosses on the Western Front, April 1915–June 1916. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1783030439.