Ivan Vesey Townsend (5B32)

Date of Birth: 1894
Date of Death: ka 4 Feb 1915
Generation: 8th
Residence: Brighton, Sussex
Father: Charles Eyre Coote Townsend [5B14]
Mother: Billing, Ida
Spouse: Unmarried
Issue: None
See Also: Table VB ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree

Notes for Ivan Vesey Townsend

Ivan was born at Mount Coote and educated at Felsted School in Essex from May 1908 to July 1912, following which he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

He was commissioned (1) into 2nd Battalion The East Lancashire Regiment in September 1913, who at that time were stationed in Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa. Later the battalion moved to France and in a letter dated 3 February 1915, he wrote "I long for the peace-soldiering once more. I am convinced I am too wicked to die, for I have had three narrow shaves. A German sniper fired at me point blank in a house at midnight. I got the flash in my face, but by the grace of God he missed me. My first day under fire was marred by my getting a bullet right across the back of my neck, cutting my collar into two pieces." Two days later he was killed in action.

Ivan is buried at Souchez, Pas de Calais, France.

Page 697 of The Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland records that Administration of the estate of "Ivan Vesey Townsend late of 9 Vine Place Brighton Sussex Lieutenant 2nd East Lancs" who died on 4 February 1915, in France was granted at Dublin on 29 July 1915 to " Charles E Coote Townsend". Effects £283 13s 6d.

(1) London Gazette Issue 28756