Died of wounds received in action aged 29
Buried at Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery III A 16
Francis William Lindley was born at Hyde Park Gardens, London to William Cameron Gull, a barrister who became the second Baronet the following year, and was the Liberal Unionist Member of Parliament for Barnstaple from 1895-1900. His mother was the Hon. Annie Clayton Lindley daughter of the 1st and last Baron Lindley. He had two older sisters, two younger sisters and a brother.
His grandfather Gull was a prominent Physician, Governor of Guy's Hospital, London and remembered for a number of significant contributions to medical science, including advancing the understanding of myxoedema, Bright's disease, paraplegia and anorexia nervosa (for which he first established the name). His aunt had married Sir Henry Dyke Acland, another prominent physician.
Francis was educated at Highclere School Southampton and Eton leaving in 1908 and coming up to Christ Church that October, where he was a member of the University Contingent of the Officers‘ Training Corps. He married Elizabeth Hope Bine Redshaw, the daughter of Sir Charles Bine Renshaw 1st Bt., on 4 September 1914.
He joined the Rifle Brigade [Prince Consort’s Own] with the rank of Captain, later becoming a temporary Major on 5 August 1918 whilst second in command attached to the 13th Battalion and was killed only ten days later.
The war record of the 9th Rifle Brigade states:-
“8th August 1916 - The battalion arrived at Buire-sur-l'Ancre from Candas and on the 19th took over some new and very shallow trenches near Delville Wood. The Battalion remained in line until the 21st and suffered the following casualties:
2nd Lieutenant G.R.M. Pakenham wounded, 2nd Lieutenant W. Hesseltine killed, five other ranks killed and thirty one wounded. On the 24th it returned to the front line and although not actually engaged in the attack by the 9th KRRC to clear Delville Wood on the 24th to 26th August, it rendered considerable assistance with its bombers, Lewis-guns and carrying parties, and eventually relieved the remainder of the 9th KRRC and was itself relieved on the 27th.
During this period Major F.W.L.Gull was wounded and nine other ranks killed and thirty seven wounded.”
His name is on the MCC Roll of Honour at Lords’ Cricket Ground and at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Yattendon, Berkshire.
His Effects amounted to £794 16s 9d and probate was granted to his widow living at 5 Montpelier Square, London.