Leonard James Keyworth ["Tales of the V.C."], item 2

• January 18, 2018 03:54:01 Thomas A. Lingner

  7 Feb 1918

  
  

  TALES OF THE V. C.

  Pte. LEONARD JAMES KEYWORTH, 24th London Regt. (The Queen's

  (By Lieut. J. P. Lloyd).

  
  

    On the night of the 25/26th May, 1915, the 24th London

  Regiment (The Queen's) went forward to attack the German

  Positions near Givenchy village, on the left of the

  LA BASSÉE canal. The Germans were entrenched on

  the forward slope of the low hill, but in spite of this

  natural advantage they were forced out of their first line with

  bomb and bayonet.

    Encouraged by their success, the Queen's made valiant attempts

  to gain more ground, but the Germans had had time to

  reorganise their defense, and offered a stubborn resistance.

  Again and again the British bombers tried to bomb their way

  into the enemy's trenches, but the Germans, being on higher

  ground, were able to outrange them. When day broke,

  few of the bombers who had gone into action with the Queen's

  were left unwounded.

    It was for his wonderful bravery throughout this grim

  struggle that Private Keyworth was awarded the Victoria Cross.

  The simple story in the London Gazette which describes his

  conduct dgives comparatively little indication of the courage and endurance

  which he displayed that night.

    When Pte Keyworth, with the other bombers of his company,

  arrived at the foot of the German parapet, he found that

  while the enemy could easily reach him with their bombs, his

  own were continually falling short. And, in an attack, there

  is no room for wasted bombs. The attackers must often carry their

  
  

  
  

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