City of Westminster in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Lt. Leonard M. Keysor V.C.
Photographed by Jerry Klinger
1. Lt. Leonard M. Keysor Marker
In the 1940s and 1950s, at 83 Rodney Court, lived London-born Jewish WW1 hero
Lt. Leonard M. Keysor V.C.
He earned the U.K.'s highest medal for valour at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, while serving with Australian Forces.
Be Strong and of Good Courage (Joshua 1:9)
הלוא צויתיך חזק ואמץ
Erected 2025 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation U.K. Branch.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation., and the Victoria Cross and George Cross Recipients series lists.
Location. 51° 31.612′ N, 0° 10.738′ W. Memorial is in City of Westminster, England, in Greater London. It is on Maida Vale (Route A5), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 6-8 Maida Vale, City of Westminster, England W9 1TE, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the Greater South East. Globally, it is in the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John William Waterhouse (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); David Ben-Gurion (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Marc Bolan
this page online
Regarding Lt. Leonard M. Keysor V.C.. Leonard Maurice Keysor, VC (also known as "Keyzor" or "Kyezor") (3 November 1885 12 October 1951) was a Jewish, British-born, 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.
Early in the morning on 6 August 1915 the 1st Battalion carried out a diversionary attack at Lone Pine and after heavy fighting that lasted almost the entire day they managed to capture the Turkish trenches. After this more fighting would continue around the position for the next three days as the Turks attempted to regain the position. The fighting was carried out at close range, using bayonets and improvised grenades and
Photographed by Jerry Klinger
2. Lt. Leonard M. Keysor V.C. Marker
Also see . . .
1. Lt. Leonard Maurice Keysor.
Keysor won his Victoria Cross during the battle of Lone Pine in August 1915. By that time he had become a master bomb-thrower; during the days and nights of the battle, he proved his skill time and again. As Turkish bombs landed in his trench, Keysor would smother the explosions with sandbags or clothing. If he had time, he would throw the bombs back - on several occasions he even caught them in mid-flight before lobbing them back into the Turkish trenches. He was twice wounded but refused medical aid, maintaining his efforts for 50 hours. His actions saved the trench and removed the enemy from the position.(Submitted on June 6, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
2. Leonard Maurice Keysor.
January 16, 1916 at Buckingham Palace, King George V presented him with the Victoria Cross for his bravery at Lone Pine.(Submitted on June 6, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
3. Honoring Defensive Jewish Hand Grenade Hurlers, Then and Now .
He was a bomber, a highly skilled grenade thrower. He was also extraordinary. When the Turkish grenades flew over the parapet into his section of the trenches, Keysor did not hide. Keysor grabbed the grenade and threw it back into the Turkish trenches or amidst the attacking Turkish men. Keysor did not know if the grenade he picked up, and sometimes even caught with his bare hands in the air, was going to blow up. He only knew that if he did nothing, he and his comrades would be dead.(Submitted on June 8, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 172 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 6, 2025, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
