Main CPGW Record
Surname: TOWNSON
Forename(s): Francis Richard
Place of Birth: Tatham, Lancashire
Service No: 21661
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)
Battalion / Unit: 'D' Coy 7th (Service) Battalion
Division: 20th (Light) Division
Age: ---
Date of Death: 1918-07-20
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: IX. C. 11.
CWGC Cemetery: TINCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: HIGH BENTHAM, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: LOW BENTHAM, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Francis Richard Townson was the son of Thomas and Margaret Townson, née Towers. Thomas was born at Caton, Lancashire and Margaret at Bentham, Yorkshire.
1891 Tatham, Lancashire Census: Clintsfield - Cottage - Francis R. Townson, aged 3 years, born Tatham, son of Thomas and Margaret Townson.
1901 Low Bentham, Yorkshire Census: Francis Richard Townson, aged 13 years, born Tatham, Lancashire, son of Thomas and Margaret Townson.
1911 Low Bentham, Yorkshire Census: Francis Richard Townson, aged 23 years, born Tatham, Lancashire, son of Margaret Townson, widow.
Francis was married to Sarah Jane Bell in 1912. Sarah was the sister of Private James William Bell (3594) (q.v.).
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Francis R. Townson, 21661, Yorks L.I. Theatre of War: (1) France. Qualifying date [for 1914-15 Star]: 17.6.15. Died.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Francis Richard Townson, 21661, 2nd Yorks L.I.; 6th Yorks L.I.; 7th Yorks L.I. Died 20.7.18.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Francis Richard Townson, 21661, 7/K.O.Y.L.I. Date and Place of Death: 20.7.18. Tincourt. Illness. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Sarah J. £12 9s. 1d. O.S.B. £24 18s. 2d. son Francis born 26.5.14.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Francis. Name(s) on card(s): Sarah A. [sic] Townson. Address: Dunkirk, Low Bentham, Lancaster.
Francis died in France, not Germany, as stated in the CPGW book entry - he was a prisoner of war.
The 7th (Service) Bn K.O.Y.L.I. was disbanded on the 20 February 1918. Some men were transferred to the 14th Entrenching Battalion. In a 'Craven Herald' article dated 24 May 1918, he is named as Private Richard Townson of the Rifle Brigade, so he may have been transferred to either the 11th (Service) or 12th (Service) Battalion that formed part of the 20th (Light) Division.
A short biography of Francis is included in: ‘Bentham’s Part in the Great War 1914-18’ by Allan and Marilyn Hartley (2019).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
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Private Francis Richard TOWNSON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 20th (Light) Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Tincourt New British Cemetery
Courtesy of Allan Hartley, High Bentham
Tincourt New British Cemetery
CWGC Headstone
Courtesy of Allan Hartley, High Bentham
The High & Low Bentham men who gave their lives
Top row (l-r): Rfn Ernest Knight Newhouse, Pte John Thornber, Reverend Theodore Bayley Hardy, Pte Richard Wilson, Pte Maurice Richard Bolton, Lieut John Barclay Clibborn, Pte William Throup, Pte Richard Wilcock Carr, A/Cpl William Robinson, Pte James Auton, Pte William Savage. Third row (l-r): L/Cpl David Percival Dixon, Pte John Emmott, Pte Francis Richard Townson, Pte John Adamthwaite, Pte Robert Carter, L/Cpl John Hutchinson, Pte Alfred Edward Gunn, Pte Ezra Stephenson, Pte Edwin Rawlinson Smith, Pte Richard Wearing, Lieut Basil William Ramsbotton. Third row (l-r): Spr Robert Clark, Act L/Cpl Thomas Wilcock, Cpl William Carr, Pte Lawrence Lancelot Dowbiggin, Pte Edward Magoolagan, Pte Isaac Rucastle, Pte Henry Taylor, Cpl Edward Ramskill, L/Cpl Edward Walton Briscoe, Pte Joseph Jackson, Gnr Ernest Wilcock. Fourth row (l-r): Capt Donald Morrison, Sgt Arthur Dean Blackburn, Pte James William Bell, Pte Leonard Nelson, L/Cpl John Edward Leeming, L/Cpl Albert Lister, Pte Percy Preston Whitfield, Cpl Tom Harry Smith, Cpl Thomas Walker Sanderson, Sgt William Patrick Tobin, Pte (Signaller) W. Wilkinson.
Courtesy of the artist, David Hartnup
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
26 February 1915
LOW BENTHAM – War Items
Mr. Francis R. Townson (youngest son of the late Mr. Thos. Townson, and Mrs. Townson, of Low Bentham) has joined the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regiment, and is stationed at Pontefract.
28 April 1916
LOW BENTHAM – Bentham Parish Church
…After the evening service a short intercession service was held on behalf of our sailors, soldiers, airmen, and sufferers through the war, and prayers were offered that peace may be restored. The Rector, who officiated, made reference to Private Francis Richard Townson, who was wounded in action a few weeks ago. Pte. Townson is now in the base hospital at Rouen, and no doubt all who know him will be glad to hear that he is reported to be progressing very favourably.
22 December 1916
LOW BENTHAM
Sapper Isaac Grisedale, of the Royal Engineers, who has been at Salonika and the Dardanelles, is home on fourteen days’ leave.
Private Richard Townson, of the K.O.Y.L.I., and Private Harry Walter, of the Coldstream Guards, have also been on furlough last week-end.
01 February 1918
LOWER BENTHAM – Soldiers on Leave
Bombadier Charles MacDonald, Notts and Derby Regiment, has been home on embarkation leave; Private Richard Townson, K.O.Y.L.I., is over on the usual fourteen days’ furlough from France. Private Richard Robinson, K.O.Y.L.I., Private John Dickenson, Royal Fusiliers, and F. Sugden, R.N., have also been spending a few days at Home.
24 May 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Mrs. R. Townson, Dunkirk, Low Bentham, has received a German field card from her husband, Private Richard Townson, Rifle Brigade, saying he is a prisoner of war at Limburg and unwounded.
22 November 1918
HIGHER BENTHAM – Good and Bad News
Several prisoners of war from the German camps have been heard of. Corporal John West, of the Liverpool’s, has landed at Dover, and Private Dick Townson, of the ‘Duke’s,’ is reported dead in a German camp in August last. He was badly gassed, and spent some time in England last year. He was taken prisoner last July. He leaves a young widow and one son, for whom the greatest sympathy is felt.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
24 May 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Bentham Prisoners of War
News has reached Bentham that three at any rate of the several missing boys, who were in the retreat from ----- are prisoners of war in Germany, and it has taken two months for these poor fellows to be allowed to let their anxious relatives know that there were alive and well. Their names are Gunner Bert Foster, Pte. Percy Prince, and Corpl. Dick Townson.
22 November 1918
Bentham Prisoners of War
Several prisoners of war have been heard of at last. Corpl. John West, of the Liverpools, has landed at Dover, and Pte. Dick Townson, of the ‘Duke’s,’ is reported as having died in a German camp in August last. He was badly gassed and spent some time in England last year. He was taken prisoner last July. He leaves a widow and one son.
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