Name
Francis Underwood
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/04/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
4th Bn., attached King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAYEUX MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot I, Row D, Grave 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford,
Oakham School War Memorial, Rutland
Pre War
Son of Elisabeth Matilda (formerly DARNELL, nee TOWNSEND), UNDERWOOD of Watford, and the late Francis UNDERWOOD.
His parents married 1888 in the Market Harborough, Leics, district. Francis died 23 January 1903 in Cranoe, Lincs, aged 52, and was buried 28 January at St Michael’s, Cranoe; Elisabeth possibly died 1941 in the Shrewsbury, Salop, district aged 82.
Francis was born 13 May 1890 in Little Oxenden, Northants, and baptised 15 June 1890 at St John the Baptist, East Farndon, Northants. He attended Oakham School, Rutland, from 1902 to 1907, and was a civil engineering graduate from Birmingham University.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1891 Census, aged 11 months he lived in Little Oxenden, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 10 he lived in Cranoe, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, an engineering student aged 20, he lived in Boxmoor, Herts, with one sibling.
Wartime Service
He attested 15 September 1914 at Westminster for Short Service (3 years’ with the Colours): a civil engineer aged 24, 5’7″ tall, C of E; Private 2175 18th (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (1st Public Schools).
He served at Home 2 September 1914 to 13 November 1915; with the B.E.F. 14 November 1915 to 22 March 1916; and Home again from 23 March to 7 July 1916, when he was discharged on being granted a commission as Second Lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal West Kent Regiment 8 July 1916.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 14 November 1915, and died at No. 36 Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
