Captain Francis William Durand

Regiment: 3rd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers
Panel reference: 43 and 44
Date published: 14/05/1915
Killed in action: Yes
Date of death: 22/12/1914
Age at death: 39
Cemetery: Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Information: Captain Francis William Durand, 3rd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the night of December 22-23, was the son of the late Rev. Havilland Durand, of Earley, and of Mrs. Durand, of Moulin Huet, Guernsey. He was born in January, 1875, and was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey. Gazetted Second Lieutenant, 3rd Royal Guernsey Light Infantry (Militia) in 1891, he joined the Rhodesian Horse in 1895 and served with the Gwelo Field Force in the Matabele Campaign of 1896 and the Mashona Campaign of 1897, being awarded the medal and clasp. From 1899 to 1902 he served with the African Transcontinental Telegraph Survey through German East Africa, and in the Tanganyika Concessions Expedition to Katarga Congo Free State. In 1903 he married Geraldine Vesey, youngest daughter of the late Rev. John W. Hawtrey, of Aldin House, Slough, and of Mrs. J . W. Hawtrey. In September last he joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, and was present at the actions on the Aisne, the Marne, and at Ypres.
Additional information: Son of the late Rev. Havilland Durand (Vicar of Earley, Berks.), and Mrs. Durand, of Guernsey; husband of Geraldine Durand (nee Hawtrey), of 52, New St., Henley-on-Thames. Seconded under the Foreign Office to the Zanzibar Government, 1903-1913. Served in Maubeleland, 1896, and Mashonaland, 1897, Brilliant Star of Zanzibar 3rd Class, Order of El Aliyeh 4th Class.