TOWNSEND, Lionel

Lionel Townsend was the only son of Mr and Mrs Oliver Townsend of Lawnside, Hagley. He was born in Glasgow in 1888 and educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond, Perth. He had worked at a Rugby engineering firm and at Dundee Corporation power station before being appointed in 1912 assistant to the general manager of Hill and Smith at Brierley Hill. In 1914 he volunteered and joined the South Staffords. He was commissioned and soon promoted to Captain in the 9th (Service) Battalion. They joined the 11th Division as reinforcements on Gallipoli, landing at Suvla Bay on 6-7th August 1915 without any resistance from the Turks. They failed, however, to take advantage of the situation and did not advance for two days. Then a determined attempt was made to attack Hill 70 but within ten minutes heavy losses had been sustained. Eight officers, including Lionel Townsend, were killed and the total casualties in the battalion amounted to over 400. After one short battle half of the 1914 volunteers had been either killed or wounded. Captain Lionel Townsend was 27 years of age and is commemorated on the Helles, Stourbridge, Oldswinford church, Glenalmond School Memorials and by a special memorial consisting of the fine chancel screen at St. John's church Hagley.