Military History

Francis is listed as being killed in action on 25th September 1915 during an attack on the village of Loos. The 8th Battalion war diary contains the following report about the events of that day.

Report on Operations 25^th September

From: Adjutant 8^th Seaforth Highlanders
To: Headquarters 44^th Infantry Brigade

Capt D.W.P. Strang

As Senior Officer left after the attack of the 8^th Seaforth as part of the 44^th Brigade on the German position on 25^th inst, I have the honour to submit the following report.

On notification that Zero hour was 5:50am Lt. Col Thomson ordered all men to stand to arms at 5.00am with smoke helmets on ready for use. At 5:50am Discharged comments under fairly favorable conditions. Whether however it was due to the bursting of a gas cylinder or the nature of the wind a considerable number of the leading Coy of the Battalion suffered from the effects of gas before leaving the trenches.

The the smoke candles were exceedingly effective and promptly to the minute A Company of 8^th Seaforth Highlanders leaped the parapet, B, C & D Coys following in quick succession.

The German wire was well cut by our artillery and the losses which we had here were not due to delay caused by the wire so much as to the very heavy artillery and machine gunfire of the enemy.  The losses were disastrous to the battalion with regard to senior officers. The Colonel and 2nd in command, who had gone over the parapet, well forward move left not far from our own trenches and the ? Commanders were in similar case. I did not realise that by this time I was in command of the Regiment, although seeing the second in command down and having lost touch with the Colonel I forthwith proceeded to endeavour to communicate with the Brigade.

The central St. of Loos running E & W was taken by the right of the line of advance of the 8th Seaforth Highlanders.  In making for there however we again suffered heavily owing to strong German Machine Gun positions on the edge of town. Bombers were pushed into the town and did excellent work, the remainder of the Battalion keeping more to the left and pushing on quickly. Owing to the rapid advance touch was lost somewhat, I think, with the Brigade on the left.

Beyond Loos the Battalions of the Brigade had become considerably mixed up together and there seemed to be no Officers of the Brigade beyond the rank of Captain in the front line. In advancing the village of Loos and the ? behind the pylons seemed to exercise a bad fascination on the firing line. The line was also probably inclined to the right by the desire to get touch with the London Division.

The result was that the Seaforth Hdrs and Black Watch mixed up with the Gordons and Camerons left the German work at H.31 Central on their left and advanced on the Cite St. Laurent rather than the Cite Auguste. The right of the line emerged directly on Puits 12, where its further advance was impossible owing to the fact that our heavy artillery was shelling the mine and apparently searching for a battery right up against which we had arrived and which continued to fire in our immediate neighbourhood until one gun was knocked out by one of our shells.

The advance was obviously impossible from here, the line then inclined to the left and directed its attack against a position extending from Puits 12 to the Dynamitiere at H.1.v.1.2. The Dynamitiere was strongly held by Machine Guns and our guns began wasting their ammunition at this point. This seemed to shake the line for after a bit it apparently waivered. I had returned to the top of the hill to attempt an appreciation of the situation, and when I got to the keep found there a young Engineer, Lt. Johnstone, who instantly convinced me of the necessity of rallying the men there and holding the hill on this line.

We failed to induce the men to remain in the keep but succeeded in making them hold on the bank on which the whole line subsequently retired and getting the fire under control we were able to hold up the German counter attack. It certainly looked for the moment as if the whole offensive was going to be swept off the hill and I think it was due entirely to the judgement of the young Engineer officer that the situation was saved.

Colonel Wallace of the Gordons then started forming a line behind and lower down on which I understand he was later found by Lt. Col Sandilands. Learning that the Brigade was at Loos I proceeded there to state the situation. After explaining the position which I was holding with a mixed collection of men from different arrangements I was instructed I would be relieved and authorised to withdraw what remained of the 8^th Seaforth’s when Lt. Col McLean of the 13^th Royal Scots had consolidated the position on the hill.

This was done during the night and I withdrew the 8^th Seaforths HQ, one other officer, myself and 135 NCO’s and men to the Vermelles-Grenay line of defence.