Francis Townend

Francis Whitchurch Townend (10 July 1885 – 29 March 1915) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

Townend was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia to The Reverend Alfred Townend, a former Army Chaplain, and his wife, Margaret. He was sent to England to be educated, where he was taught on the Isle of Wight at Appuldurcombe, before attending Camberley School. From there he attended Dulwich College. He left Dulwich in 1901 to attend the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich where he played cricket and football for the academy. He spent a further two years at the Royal School of Military Engineering, In the same year he was posted to British India, where he was attached to the 3rd Sappers and Miners. Playing as a batsman, Townend scored 95 runs across his three matches, with a highest score of 69. Besides playing in first-class matches, he was a well known cricketer for the Royal Engineers and also played minor matches for the Free Foresters and the British Indian Army. Upon his arrival in France, he was attached to the 35th Divisional Signals Company, followed by attachment to the Dehra Dun Brigade, serving with the latter in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915.