Editing Leonard Keysor (section)

==Military career==
Keysor had only been in Australia for about three months when the First World War broke out. He enlisted in the [[First Australian Imperial Force|Australian Imperial Force]] on 18 August 1914 as a [[Private (rank)|private]] and was assigned to the [[1st Battalion (Australia)|1st Battalion]], which was forming at Randwick.<ref name=McCarthy/><ref name=Army>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.gov.au/hq1bde/docs/Lance%20Corporal%20Leonard%20Maurice%20Keysor.doc|title=Lance Corporal Leonard Keysor|publisher=Australian Army|access-date=2009-06-09|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805172243/http://www.army.gov.au/hq1bde/docs/Lance%20Corporal%20Leonard%20Maurice%20Keysor.doc|archive-date=2008-08-05}}</ref> On 18 October 1914 he embarked for overseas service among the first contingent. Initially he served in Egypt where the Australians were involved in the defence of the [[Suez Canal]] against the [[Turkey|Turks]], but on 25 April 1915, he landed at [[Gallipoli]] where he took part in the subsequent fighting on the peninsula.<ref name=McCarthy/> On 20 June 1915 he was promoted to [[lance corporal]], before taking part in the [[Battle of Lone Pine]] in August.<ref name=McCarthy/>

It was during the course of this battle that Keysor performed the actions that led to him receiving the Victoria Cross. 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.<ref name=McCarthy/> 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 bombs. Over the course of about 50 hours on 7–8 August, Keysor continually risked his life to pick up the Turkish grenades as they were thrown into the trenches and throw them back.<ref name=McCarthy/><ref name=mail/> Later, despite being wounded and ordered to seek medical attention, Keysor continued to remain in the line, volunteering to throw bombs for another company.<ref name=LG>{{London Gazette|issue=29328|page=10154|date=15 October 1915}}</ref>

After the battle was over Keysor was evacuated from Gallipoli suffering [[enteric fever]]. He eventually rejoined the 1st Battalion after they had been transferred to France in early 1916.<ref name=McCarthy/> In March 1916 Keysor took part in the [[Battle of Pozières]]. In November 1916 he was transferred to the 42nd Battalion and promoted to the rank of [[sergeant]] on 1 December. On 13 January 1917 he was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] and promoted to the rank of [[second lieutenant]]. Six months later he was promoted to [[lieutenant]]. On 28 March 1918 Keysor was wounded and was evacuated from the line before returning to take part in the fighting at [[Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux|Villers-Bretonneux]], where he was gassed on 26 May 1918.<ref name=McCarthy/>

In October 1918 when manpower levels in the AIF reached critical level, Keysor returned to Australia to head up a recruiting campaign. He was discharged from the army on medical grounds on 12 December 1918.<ref name=McCarthy/>