DURNFORD, Francis Henry
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | England, United Kingdom, 7 January 1882 |
| Home Town: | Burra (SA), Goyder, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Kings School Canterbury, Cambridge University England |
| Occupation: | Church of England Clerk of Holy Orders |
| Died: | Cottingham, East Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, 27 March 1969, aged 87 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Burra District WW1 Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jul 1915: | Involvement Australian Army Chaplains' Department, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1915: | Embarked Australian Army Chaplains' Department, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne |
Help us honour Francis Henry Durnford's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Mentioned in Despatches
'For consistently meritorious work as Chaplain and for untiring efforts and plucky endurance under heavy fire in the front line at duty with the Regimental Aid Post.'
Awarded Military Cross
'For gallantry in action during the Pozieres operations, when he volunteered for duty as Stretcher-bearer for 2 days (29th and 30th July) and was also in keeping the Aid Post supplied with water, tea, soup, etc for the wounded. The 3 following days he spent in and around Pozieres with the Brigade Burying Party, often under heavy Artillery fire. The example of this Chaplain did not fail to meet the response it deserved.'
THE REV. F. H. DURNFORD, M.C.
Chaplain the Rev. F. H. Durnford, M A., who has been awarded the Military Cross, was formerly attached, to No. 21 Australian General Hospital, Alexandria. He took his Arts Degree at Cambridge in. 1904, and came an MA., in 1908.. He was ordained as a deacon in the Church of England in 1907, and in the following year entered the priesthood. After having served as curate in English parishes, he came to South Australia, and took, over the charge of the Burra parish in 1914. In the following year he was appointed a military chaplain. Our Burra correspondent telegraphed on Tuesday:—"The announcement that the Military Cross bad been awarded to Chaplain Durnford was received with great satisfaction in Burra and district, was not with surprise, for letters at various times from many local boys at the front have always contained the highest appreciation and praise of Mr. Durnford's bravery in the field. During the time he was in Burra as curate of St. Mary'e Church he was extremely popular, and took an active part in cricket and golf. He left for the front 18 months ago."
The Journal Adelaide Wednesday 06 June 1917 page 1
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