Personal info

  • Name: Leonard James KEYWORTH
  • D.O.B: 12th Aug, 1883
  • D.O.A: 26th May, 1915
  • D.O.D: 19th Oct, 1915
  • Award: Victoria Cross
  • Occupation at time of action: Lance Corporal, 1st/24th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, (The Queen’s), 142nd Brigade, 47th Division
  • Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
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Sources & Acknowledgements

North of Givenchy, France 25-26 May 1915

25-26 May 1915

More details about:
The First World War 1915 

At 6.30pm on 25 May 1915, just north of Givenchy and south of Festubert, between Béthune and La Bassée, the 24th Battalion London Regiment, after a supporting barrage, attacked and captured a section of the German line known as the ‘S Bend’. Further advance was prevented by German fire from higher ground to the south but the trench was held throughout the night and the whole of the following day when the 24th Battalion, which by this time had been reduced to 250 men, was relieved by the 20th London Battalion.

Citation

 For most conspicuous bravery at Givenchy on the night of 25th-26th May, 1915. After the successful assault on the German position by the 24th Battalion, London Regiment, 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 of 75 became casualties. During this very fierce encounter Lance-Corporal Keyworth stood fully exposed for two hours on the top of the enemy’s parapet, and threw about 150 bombs amongst the Germans, who were only a few yards away. 

Supplement to The London Gazette of 2 July 1915. 3 July 1915, Numb. 29215, p. 6533

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