| Accession Number | H06240 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Portrait of Corporal (Cpl) Leslie Thomas Keep MM, 5th Field Company Engineers from St Kilda, ...
Description
Portrait of Corporal (Cpl) Leslie Thomas Keep MM, 5th Field Company Engineers from St Kilda, Victoria. A 25 year old surveyor prior to enlisting on 31 July 1915, he embarked for overseas as a Sapper from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 24 November 1915. After disembarking in Egypt, he later proceeded to France in March 1916. Sapper Keep was awarded a Military Medal (MM) for bravery on 24/25 July 1916 north of Pozieres. He and two other sappers with an officer went out to reconnoiter the ground and remained as markers at certain points in “No Man’s Land” so that the company could be led to their work. They were out in the open under heavy shell fire and occasional bursts of machine gun fire. After being promoted to Lance Corporal on 30 August 1916, he was later promoted to Corporal on 15 March 1917. Cpl Keep was wounded in action on 23 July 1918 and evacuated to England for medical treatment and then was returned to Australia where he was discharged medically unfit for further service on 12 December 1917.