HITCHCOX, Francis Cecil
Pte., 1 Batt Royal Scots Fusiliers
By John Hitchcox
THERE,S STILL A LOT OF WORK IO BE DONE ON THIS SITE RE EDITING
Francis Cecil Hitchcox was born 29 November 1898 at num 17 Bath Row,Stamford,Lincolnshire the first
born child of twelve born to Caleb George Hitchcox a Fireman on the London & North Western Railway &
Ann [nee Draycott]
Its unknown when Francis enlisted with his local Regiment the Notts & Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) Service Number 306274 before being transferred about late 1917 to the Royal Scots Fusiliers 1st
Battalion Service Number 203674, he spent time at the French Furze, Army Training Camp, The Curragh,
County Kildare, Ireland before twice being sent to France.
He left Folkstone en route for France on Friday 6th December 1917 for his 2nd tour
Frances died of wounds in a Field Hospital on the Somme 7th April 1918 & is buried in the Military Cemetery at Etaples.
Francis Cecil Hitchcox birth certificate
Birth Record
Name Francis Cecil Hitchcox
Year of Registration 1899
Quarter of Registration Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration District Stamford
Registration County Lincolnshire
Mother's maiden name
Volume Number 7A
Volume Page 351
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
FRANCIS CECIL HITCHCOX
Rank: Private
Service No:203674
Date of Death:07/04/1918
Age:19
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers 1st Bn.
Grave Reference XXXIII. E. 21A.
Cemetery ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Caleb George and Ann Hitchcox, of 5, Blytons Yard, Millgate, Newark, Notts
The following is a series of letters between Francis and grandmother plus a couple
of Army pals, in some cases they are part written in pencil and are difficult to
transcribe but apart from the odd word or two I think I,ve made a fair job of it
Letter from Ann to Francis [no date but Nancy was born 8/2/1918 & Caleb was due to leave on the
9/3/1918]
Page 1 Letter 1
Dear Cecil
Just a line, I know you will think I,ve forgotten you but I have not, you,ll be surprised to know that you have
got another sister [Nancy] I,m pleased to say I feel a bit better now but I have been that bad I have not been
able to go about, I have not been out yet for I feel so weak I have a job to crawl about. I,m pleased to know
you,re not in the trenches. I hope you will have the luck to keep out of it.
Page 2
You,ll be surprised to know that your dad [I was unsure about 'dad' Caleb would have been 43yrs, but in
Francis,s reply its definitely 'dad'] has got his papers again, he has to go this time he leaves Ransomes
[Ransome & Marles Bearing Factory] a week on Friday he goes the 9
th March I don,t know where they will
send him to,he does,nt know himself yet but I will let you know as soon as I know my self so don,t be surprised
if you meet him in France. Well dear Cecil I must close with best love from all at home
Ann Hitchcox
Francis,s reply to his mothers letter [above]
France 9th March 1918
203674 Pte F Hitchcox
7 Plat C5 Coy
1st R S F
Page 1 Letter 2 B E F
Dear Mother and all
Just a few lines to let you know I have not forgot you at home. I am now finished the job at the camp and am
now in the trenches for 8 days and [badly stained crease in page making 2 lines unreadable]
but still as long as it keeps as it is [weather] it will be champion,glad to hear you have another baby and that
you are getting on alright. I,m sorry to hear Dad has got to join up and tell him not to join the infantry battalion
or he will know about it when he gets out here, anyhow I hope he has not to join up, he as [ has] to support the
home.
Page 2
Well Dear Mother I think I will bring this letter to a close as I have to go on fatigues and hope all at home are
enjoying the best of health as it finds me at the moment
I remain your loving son
Cecil
Page 1 Letter 3 France March 26th 1917
Dear Mother
Just a few lines in reply to your letter which I received the other day,I got the papers and
they was very welcome because I had nothing to read, don,t think I have forgot you because I
have not wrote regular the places are up to the boot tops in slug [sludge] and we get woke up in
the night to go from one place to another,they put us in any old place,we hardly have anything
to eat and I have had enough of it, so I should send my birth certificate to
Page 2
Sherwood Headquarters to Captain Niel at the Drill Hall he will tell you how to go on. I think
this is all this time,hoping you are in the best of health as it leaves me the same
I remain your loving son
F C
PS I mean it this time about the birth certificate
Letter from Francis to his mother Tuesday October 2nd 1917 6-30pm
203673 Pte F Hitchcox
10 Platoon
C Coy
2/4 R. S. F.
Page 1 Letter 4 France
Dear Mother & All
Just a few lines in answer to your letter which I received at tea time.I received the papers alright and am glad to
hear Frank has a raise as it will mean a bit more for you and a bit more
Page 2
pocket money for him. I bet Frank swanks when he comes home with his 12/-. I know Mother I should very
much like to know who telled you I gambled my money if I did I should tell them off not half would,nt I.
I have just been on a Machine Gun Course and very likely it shall be for on a Armoured Car as a gunner thats
if I pass first class gunner
Page 3
that should be a cushy job too, I see there has been an advance in soldiers pay, so that will be alright.
There is a Corporal in our hut who was due to go on leave to morrow but he got stopped because the Coy is on
Mobility and are going to fire a course ? next week, so it looks black don,t it. I asked the Coy Clerk if I could
get a leave he telled me I would not till
Page 4
my papers came from my other battalion.
Well Dear Mother I think I,ve told you all this time,hoping you are in the best of health as it becomes me at
present,
I remain your loving son Cecil
xxxxxxx
PS I am sending you a sprig of heather
Francis,s Army Pal Pte Walter Marsh 202632
Royal Scots Fusiliers
C Coy
10 Battalion
203622 Pte Walter Marsh
2/4 Royal Scots Fusiliers
French Furze Camp
The Curragh
Ireland
A letter from Pte Walter Marsh to Caleb & Ann
Page 1
Dear Mr & Mrs Hitchcox
I now have the pleasure of writing these few lines has [as] regards your son Frank Hitchcox who I now [know]
as an old Army friend [missing] of his, I have been used to hearing from him every week from him since he was
sent to France again but regret to say I,ve not heard from him for the last 3 weeks. I should be very much
Page 2
obliged if you could inform me if he his [is] still all right,this information would take a great bunch ? of my
mind
Hoping you will be able to oblige
I remain
Pte Walter Marsh
203622 Pte Walter Marsh
2/4 Royal Scots Fusiliers
C Coy 10 Platoon
French Furze Camp
The Curragh
Ireland
A letter from Pte Walter Marsh to Caleb & Ann 30/1/1918
Page 1 Letter 6
Mr & Mrs Hitchcox
Just a few lines in reply to your letter I received on Wednesday. Am very pleased to let you know I got a letter
from Frank on Sunday & he is in the best of health & is in the Moral Platoon. I expect he has told you he gets
of [off] all F L Guards & fatigues when the Batt is in the line of cause he don,t no [know]
Page 2
how he as [has[] got in is,nt of cause I expect he as [has] started to Soldier again .But I no [know] with my
experience you have to do these things alone & stand the consequence & the lads get it frequently enough when
they get punishment, pleased to say I have not had any out there.
Well I will have to close now from Pte Walter Marsh
PS I,m sending you Franks letter to show that he is all right & that I have answered one from him
Letter from Francis to Walter Marsh
21/1/1918 203674 Pte F Hichcox
7 Platoon C Coy
1st R S F
B E F
France
Page 1 Letter 7
Dear Walter
Just a few lines in answer to your letter I received yesterday thanks as it came in very handy as I was broke at
the time. Turner has got a base job, Yardley, Higgingson and Gregg have gone into hospital but I have no luck
to be in dock I have been put in the Moral Platoon
Page 2
it ts supposed to be the picked men of the Battalion, we are excused fatigues and do guards at H Q when the
batt is in the line so thats not bad is it. Well Dear Chum I expect Mae ? will be out now for he said he was
going on the 29
th of this month. I suppose you can soldier now the big pay is through, mine is through and it
sums me 1/8d a day, that will be alright Well Dear Chum I think I have told you all this time
Page 3
hoping you and all the lads are enjoying the best of health as it leaves me the same
I remain yours truly
Frank
Letter from Francis to his mother 13/12/17 203674 Pte F Hitchcox
7 Platoon B Coy
1st Batt R S F
B E F
France
Page 1 Letter 8
Dear Mother and All
Just a few lines to let you know I have shifted from the Notts J B D to the 1
st Batt R S F we had joined the
Battalion a couple of hours before we had to shift up the line worse luck, there are a lot of 2/4 R S F in the
battalion and the Batt had only come out of the line early in the morning. We came from the J B D by train and
stopped there a couple of days the first night the place was bombed by the German
Page 2
aeroplanes,they tried for the railway but they did not get it, but just missed a bridge by a couple of yards, 2 were
killed so I was telled, we set off from the Detail Depot by motor lorry and arrived at the Batt just before dinner,
we have been out for the night but all the boys are all merry and bright and a jolly lot so I have not got any
thing to grumble at
Well Dear Mother I think I have told you all this time, hoping you don,t forget the parcels and fags for
Christmas, hoping you and all at home are enjoying the best of health as it leaves me the same at the present
I remain your loving son F C xxx
Letter from Francis to his Mother 203674 Pte F Hitchcox
Page 1 Letter 9 9 Platoon C Coy
2/4 R S F
Royal Barracks
Dublin
Ireland
Dear Mother & All
Just a few lines to let you know received your letter to hand this dinner and am answering it straight away the
District Court Marshall is why and the Commanding Officer
Page 2 Letter 9
gave me 14 days instead so that is,nt so dusty is it. I should not worry if I were you as I am alright and will be
out a week on Thursday,so it will be my last letter till then and shall not write until you hear from me and tell
the lass will you as I only have one stamp and tell Annie
Page 3 Letter 9
I,ll send her my wrist watch for her birthday, I think its on the 9
th of this month is,nt it. Well Dear Mother I
think I have told you all this time,hoping you are enjoying the best of health as I am.
I remain your loving son F C
I should,nt worry if I was you
PS don,t forget to tell the lass
Letter from Francis to his Mother
Letter from Notts & Derby Regiment Pal Pte John J Johnson John J Johnson
284362 G Coy
5th Batt Notts & Derby Regiment
Manor Farm Camp
Saltfleet,Lancs
Dear Itchy
You,ll be surprised to have a letter from me, but not to know I am a private again, but I only lost it a week
today I went home for 6 days at Exmas ---1--- and got stripped and 18 days pay so it was,nt so bad. I heard
you got stopped over draft leave and got stripped for it, so we are both privates again. This is a rotten place but
I have only been on parade 2 times in a month as I have dodged the rest. There are a lot of our lads here and I
saw Dick Henshaw when I was home, he,s alright. Well lad I will have to close now hoping you are as well as
your old pal
Tom
Letter from Francis to his mother
[Y M C A notepapper] Address Pte F Hitchcox
Royal Scots Fus
19th S B D
817 A P O
B E F
Page 1 Letter 11 France
Dear Mother & All
Just a few lines to let you know I have landed at the base and expect to go into the line any time now, we got a
wetting the first night in landing, I,m Frogging so we have commenced well, all the N C Os 10 in all have had
to take down their stripes including 2 Sergeants so it does,nt matter about losing mine cos I would rather be
without it in France as they are not cof ? out here.
Well Dear mother I think I
Page 2 Letter 11
have told you all this time. I hope & all at home are enjoying the best of health as it leaves me at present
I remain your loving son
Cecil
Letter from Francis to his mother
203674 Pte F Hitchcox
7 Platoon B Coy
Page 1 Letter 12 1st R S F
B E F
France
Dear Mother & All
Just a few lines to let you know I am still alive & kicking, sorry I could not write before as I have busy getting
ready for the Camp Commanders inspection but hope to correspond a bit more now as I suspect the busy time is
over now, we were covered in snow when we came off parade and by jove it was
Page 2 Letter 12
cold was a hell [erased] of a cold, if it is as cold in Blighty as it is here you will need a couple of blankets over
your clothing. I have not received a parcel yet but hope to do so before long as it is hard to get parcels .
Well Dear Mother & All I think I have told you all this time, hoping you all at home are enjoying the of health
as it leaves me the same
I remain your loving son
F C
Letter from Francis to his Mother 8 April 1917
Page 1 Letter 13
Dear Mother & All
Just a few lines to let you know I have not quite forgot you yet. I received the parcel alright and was thankful
for it but see if you can send another one with bread ? and cake --- ----- can do with it as we are about
clamming ? The other day in a village which we were billeted the Germans shelled the village one of the shells
hit our field kitchen and upset our dinner and we had to borrow some of the other companies. We came out of
the T [trenches] and after a couple of days rest we had to go and attacked but we did not succeed and had to
retire in that bit of a fight, we lost about five hundred men killed,wounded and missing, but glad to say I got
through
Page 2 Letter 13
alright. I hope you have not forgot that birth certificate as I told you. Well I think I will bring this letter to a
close hoping all of you are in the best of health as it finds me the same
I remain your ever loving son
F C
P S
don,t forget about the ------ ------- as I could do with it
Letter from Francis to his mother [Odd Page]
Page 1 Letter 14
and there was neither a shot nor shell fired fired at us, so that was alright.. I only had sore hands with the wire
---- ---- Well Mother I think I have told you all this time, hoping you all at home are enjoying the best of health
as it leaves me at present.
I remain your loving son
F C
xxxxxxx
Summary of Francis,s Army Career
The first reference I have to Francis,s army career is the 9th March 1917 which was on a
Regulation Army Communication Card which has only date & signature.
I have 13 letters in all, one from his mother Ann, three from Army Pals & nine from Francis,
there also postcards.
It,s known from undated correspondence he spent time at the French Furze Army Training
Camp, County Kildare & he also served 14 days & lost his 'stripe' in the Royal Barracks, Dublin
according to an undated letter from his 'Foresters' pal John J Johnson for going absent while on 'draft leave'
In the same letter from the 'Royal' there is the only mention of a girl friend for Francis, a girl called 'Annie'
There are a number of Regulation Army Communication Cards the last dated December 11th 1917.
On the 26th March 1917 Francis is at the front, complaining of the conditions & making his first reference to
wanting his birth certificate.
8th April 1917 Francis is still at the front, a German shell has hit the field kitchen and upset their dinner.
. He,s involved in a failed attack on the German line, losing 500 men killed wounded & missing,.second request for birth certificate
Francis is on a Machine Gun course the 2nd October 1917 hoping to be a Machine Gunner on an Armoured
Car if he passes 1st Class, its around this time he is transferred to the Royal Scots
From a postcard dated 6th December 1917 Folkestone, Francis is leaving that day for his 2nd stint in France
In a letter dated 13th December 1917 he contradicts 2/10/17 letter by saying he,s just been transferred to the
Royal Scots & is joining his new unit via train and motor lorry.
Letter dated 8th March 1918 to his mother he,s finished the job at the camp & is in the trenches, in less than a
month he would be killed
Compiled by J D Hitchcox Aug 2014