Maj. Francis John Hext - St Mabyn - St Mabyn, Cornwall - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

Engraved slate plaque in St Mabyn's church, St Mabyn, dedicated to Maj Francis John Hext Dso Mc And Bar Croix De Guerre With Palm, who died of wounds received in action near Bethune, France.

Inscription -
TO THE BELOVED MEMORY OF MAJOR FRANCIS JOHN HEXT
OF TREDETHY DSO MC AND BAR 1914 STAR FRENCH CROIX DE
GUERRE WITH PALM ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY BORN 31 JULY 1895
PASSED FROM THE R.M.A. WOOLWICH INTO THE R.F.A. AUGUST 1914
THRICE MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES THRICE WOUNDED DIED 9 MAY 1918
OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION 12 APRIL 1918 NEAR BETHUNE FRANCE AGED 22

THOUGH HIS LIFE WAS SHORT HE HAD TIME TO SHOW A GREAT GIFT OF
LEADERSHIP AND AND EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY UNCONSCIOUSLY EXERCISING A
REMARKABLE INFLUENCE ON THOSE AROUND HIM. HE SET AN EXAMPLE OF
GALLANT DEVOTION TO DUTY AND WON THE ADMIRATION AND AFFECTION OF ALL WHO KNEW HIM

HE SOUGHT THE HONOUR OF HIS COUNTRY AND HE FOUND THE GLORY OF GOD

Ref - (visit link)

"CAPTAIN (act. MAJOR) FRANCIS JOHN HEXT, D.S.O., M.C. and Bar, Croix de Guerre, avec palme (France), K.F.A., died on May 9th, of wounds received in action on April 12th, aged 22. He was in the Hill 1909—1912, whence he passed into the R.M.A., gaining the Tombs Memorial Prize, August, 1914, when he was gazetted to the R.F.A. From September, 1914, he served continuously in France and Belgium; Lieutenant, June, 1915; Captain, November, 1917; and from September, 1917, he was acting Major in command of the 41st Battery until his death. He took part in the three battles of Ypres, the Somme, Arras, and the March offensive of this year; was three times wounded, and three times mentioned in Despatches. He held the 1914 Star.

At the time of his last wound, his next in command wrote: " During all the heavy fighting we have had, he has been perfectly splendid, and the admiration of us all. He always sets a magnificent example of devotion to duty, and has a wonderful moral effect upon everyone who works with him."

His Colonel said : " At 22 he had all the powers of leadership of a man of 30; his men were devoted to him; and he was of the greatest possible value to the Brigade.""

SOURCE - (visit link) (p.31)

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