Leonard James Keyworth ["Tales of the V.C."], item 4

• January 18, 2018 03:44:53 Thomas A. Lingner

  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 outrage 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

  gives comparatively little indication of the courage and endurance

  which he displayed that night.

    When Private 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

  supplies a long way; the defenders have them ready to their hands.

  But he soon solved that problem. He determined to stand on the

  parapet. That he would almost certainly be killed did not weigh

  with him at all. He could throw further - that was all that

  mattered. Down below he had had cover of a sort. Up there on 

  the parapet he was an easy target for the enemy German sniper and

  bomber

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