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Private Francis Frederick Townsend MM
Out for decoration or death
Researcher: Emma Cohen, Teacher Burnie High School
Burnie High School teacher Emma Cohen researched Francis Townsend for the Frank MacDonald Memorial Tour 2024 as she knows a number of his relatives and they are from the same region.
In 1915, a young Francis Townsend convinced his parents that he was indeed fit to join his cousin at war, and signed up at Claremont, Tasmania, on 10 August 1915.
On 7 April 1917, the 12th Battalion received orders that they were to capture the smaller village of Boursies on the main Bapaume-Cambrai Road.
Over the following 4 days, 70 of the 12th Battalion were killed or missing, and 172 were wounded,.but the mission was declared a success. The mill, 400 metres from the town itself proved to be useful in gaining vision across the open country. Enemy trenches were captured after heavy machine gun fire.
Francis was awarded the Military Medal. Official reports stated that “at Boursies, on the night 9/10th April, when enemy counter attacked on right of main road, Townsend held out for about 20 yards then opened fire with rifle under which cause the enemy to evacuate this position, thus assisting repelling this attack on the left of the main road”.
By this time, the string of vital villages leading up the Hindenburg Line was in allied hands – including Boursies. A young Francis Townsend from Tasmania stood proud and exhausted from his efforts.
On 8 October 1917, Francis came under tireless fire, trying to protect Broodseinde Ridge at Passchendale – which gave the allies the ability to look over the whole low-lying country in front – exposing German tracks and roads. He was overheard telling ‘the boys’ he was out for “decoration or death”. During an advance they were held up by enemy fire, so said that he would rush the pillbox from where the fire was coming. One witness stated Francis was shot through the chest, others said through the leg – or maybe both. He was evacuated to the 2nd Canadian Clearing Station with his right leg blown off by gun shots. He died at 5.20am.
Francis Frederick Townsend was buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium
Read Emma Cohen's research about Francis Townsend MM (PDF).