Military History

Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals	Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie
Arrived in Theatre	Other Medals	SWFHS Area Memorials
19 Aug 1914 in Le Havre, France	Queens South Africa Medal & 5 Clasps	Lillington  |  Leek Wootton
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
First Battle of Ypres	Mobilised on 4 Aug 1914	Forest Hall, Meriden
		Harrow School Roll of Honour
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Pont du Hem, Ypres	6th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers

Military Service History

• Commissioned at 2nd Lt Aug 1899
• Severely wounded in South Africa
• Retired in Jan 1908 to the Special Reserve
• Mobilised on 4 Aug 1914
• Arrived at Le Havre on 14 Aug 1914

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Sir Francis is listed as dying of his wounds on 25 Oct 1914 and one source said that he was wounded whilst recapturing a trench from the Germans. The war diary entries for the 24th and 25th Oct are transcribed below.

Pont Du Hem - 24 Oct: All Copys in billets but will cover trenches dug in case of shell fire. Ordered out at night to retake trenches evacuated by another regiment of 8th Bde but found on arrival at position that this had already been done by the Middlesex Regt. Spent all night on the move but did nothing. Left 1 Coy out as support to 8th Bde. This company retired to billets.

25 Oct: Ordered out at 12 noon to retake trenches evacuated by a Regt of 7th Bde, did so but with several casualties including 3 officers, 2 killed. Remained in recaptured trenches night of 25th 26th. Very wet.