In Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of Lieutenant Francis Edward Stevenson “Joe” Townsend serving with the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 30/09/1916.
The eldest son of Dr. and Mrs. Townsend, of Killora, Normanby, Eston, Yorks.
Francis Edward Stevenson Townsend was the oldest second son born on the 7th July 1893, of Francis Edward Townsend, ‘Killora,’ Normanby, Eston, Yorkshire, M.D., [born 4th November 1863, died on the 4th October 1932 aged 68], and his wife Annette Theresa, [they were married on the 25th February 1892], daughter of the late Francis Thomas Steavenson, Town Clerk to Darlington, and brother to Arthur Eric Townsend. There was a third boy born on the 3rd February 1897, Hugh William Addison Townsend, but he died on the 3rd February 1902. There was also a daughter Margaret Annette Townsend, who was born in Normanby in October 1911. Died 1995.
In 1901, the family were residing at 9, [some sources say 8] High Street, Normanby, with 3 servants and a sister-in-law.
Francis [was also grandson of the late Professor E. R Town, M.D., of 24 St Patrick’s Hill, Cork], was educated at Durham Grammar School from 1907 to 1910, where he took his preliminary examination at Law, and on leaving school he was articled as a solicitor with his uncle, H. G. Steavenson, his mother’s brother, who was the Town Clerk of Darlington. Francis started his training and serving his articles to become a Solicitor.
At the outbreak of War, which was about six months before he was supposed to sit his Final Exams, he joined the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in August 1914.
He was granted a commission on the 4th October 1914, as a 2nd Lieutenant, made temporary Lieutenant on the 2nd June 1916, then was promoted to a Lieutenant in July 1916.
After training in Stockton as well as Newcastle, he was sent to France in April 1915.
Francis took part in the battles of Ypres, Hooge and Hill 60. He then took part in the Battle of Morval, [one of the battles of the Somme] and was wounded on the 16th September 1916, hit by shrapnel in his head.
Day by Day account of the Somme records what happened, “151 Brigade attacked Prue Trench, east of Crescent Alley. Some parties of 1/5th Border Regiment and 1/9th Durham LI reached the objective but wee forced out. Not even Starfish line was secured. West of Crescent Alley, 150th Brigade sent 1/5th Durham LI to attack Prue Trench but they were unsuccessful, having swerved too far to the left. Later in the day, attempts wee made to bomb along Prue Trench from Martin Alley, but little ground was gained”.
Francis was taken to the no 5 Stationary Hospital at Abbeville, where his wounds were serious and resulted in his parents to be summoned to his bedside. He died on Saturday, 30th September 1916, with his parents at his bedside.
They were also present when he was buried at Abbeville Cemetery.
Francis was popular with all ranks, and was an officer of much promise. In a letter to the parents Colonel G. O Spence the commanding officer, pays a high tribute to his work. “We have had some heavy fighting.” he writes, “and heavy casualties, but I am glad to say that among the officers it is mostly wounded. Your son had a very severe time before he was struck, owing to seven officers being hit, but we got our final objective and more. This was owing a great deal to your son’s work in the early part of the battle.”
Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
In his will dated the 15th September he left effects of £18 16s 11d to Henry Gordon Stevenson town clerk.
Sources: Normanby Local History Group
Francis Edward Stevenson Townsend is remembered at Darlington on D40.34 and in D40.067, in Durham on D47.020, D47.043, in D47.057 and D47.151, at Gosforth with his brother on G9.31, at Normanby, at Eston Cleveland (Grid ref NZ 550190), in the 1/5th D.L.I Roll of Honour, page 2 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, page 268.
