Francis Pepys was killed in action on this day in 1914
A young and very junior officer to have been awarded the prestigious DSO, Francis Pepys earned this medal for bravery on 3 November. Little over a week later he was killed.
The citation for his award, dated 1 December 1914, reads as follows: "On 3rd November 1914, he did conspicuous good work in advancing from his trench and assisting in driving away a party of the enemy who were commencing to dig a new trench within 30 yards of his own; 30 of the enemy were shot down on the occasion.”
Writing of the DSO which he had gained, his Commanding Officer described how he had “most thoroughly earned” the award for his determined action in repulsing the enemy “and for his splendid leading on other occasions."
Francis was the son of Captain Arthur Pepys (late 60th Rifles) and was born at Budleigh Salterton in April 1891. After attending Charterhouse (where he was in the Cricket XI) he joined the Special Reserve of the Devonshire Regiment, becoming a regular officer in the 2nd Ox & Bucks Light Infantry in May 1913.
His was killed, aged 23, on 12 November 1914 and has no known grave, being commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
Francis is named on the Lord's Cricket Members War Memorial, and also appears on the All Saints’ Church war memorial in Budleigh Salterton.