Ferdinand Simeon Le Quesne
Surgeon Medical Staff, Royal Army Medical Corps
- Register No.
- 739 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Surgeon Medical Staff (register: Surgeon) all Surgeons →
- Unit
- Royal Army Medical Corps all Royal Army Medical Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 4 May 1889 on this day → all of 1889 →
- Conflict / campaign
- British rule in Burma
- London Gazette
- 14th Dec 1918 all of 1918 →
- Born
- 25th December, 1863 at Jersey, Channel Islands
- Died
- 14th April, 1950 at Bristol
- Memorial / grave
- at Canford Cemetery, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol. Memorials at: Neuvilly Communal Cemetery and a Plaque in the Public Library at Irby, Cheshire
Digest of citation
On 12 October 1918 at Neuvilly, France, during the clearing of the village, Private Lester, with a party of seven men and an officer, was the first to enter a house from the back door and shot two Germans who were inside. As the party started to leave the house they found the street was swept by fire and an enemy sniper was covering the exit. Private Lester volunteered to tacle the sniper, which he did, but in killing him was himself mortally wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
LE QUESNE, Ferdinand Simeon. (reg No. 739).
Surgeon. Medical Staff * London Gazetted on 29th October, 1889.
Born on 25th December, 1863 at Jersey, Channel Islands.
Died on 14th April, 1950 at Bristol.
Memorial on grave at Canford Cemetery, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol. During the Burma Expedition, on 4th May, 1889 whilst the Chin Field Force were attacking the village of Tartan, Surgeon Le Quesne remained for a period of about 10 minutes within five yards of the loopholed stockade, from where the enemy were firing. Acting with perfect coolness and self-possession, he dressed up the wounds on Second Lieutenant Michel, of the Norfolk Regiment, who died shortly afterwards. He was himself severely wounded later whilst dressing the wounds of another officer.
* Royal Army Medical Corps.
Additional information:. A he was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Giffard N Le Quesne of the Royal Jersey Artillery and his wife Augusta (daughter of Admiral Charles Simeon). He was educated in the Channel Isles and the King's College Hospital, London. He was Mentioned in Despatches during the Burma Expedition of 1889. He also received the Medal and Clasp. Serving with the Chin Lushai Field Force in 1890 and with the Wuntho Field Force in 1891, getting Clasps for each. In 1898 he was promoted Major . He served in the South African War getting the Queen's Medal, Cape Colony, 1901-2, and three clasps. In 1906 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, retiring in December 1918. He enjoyed shooting and tennis.
LESTER, Frank (Reg,No. 740). Private 10th Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers London Gazetted on 14th Dec 1918 Born on: 18th February 1896 at Huyton, Liverpool..
Died on: 12th October 1918 at Neuvilly, France.
Memorials at: Neuvilly Communal Cemetery and a Plaque in the Public Library at Irby, Cheshire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 12 October 1918 at Neuvilly, France, during the clearing of the village, Private Lester, with a party of seven men and an officer, was the first to enter a house from the back door and shot two Germans who were inside. As the party started to leave the house they found the street was swept by fire and an enemy sniper was covering the exit. Private Lester volunteered to tacle the sniper, which he did, but in killing him was himself mortally wounded.
Additional Information: Corporal Lester was Born on at West View, Huyton the son of Market Gardener, John Lester and his wife Ellen. His education was at Hoylake National School. He joined the 10th South Lancashire Regiment in March 1916. He was promoted to Sergeant Instructor and trained soldiers at Prees Heath and Kimmel Park. Transferred to the 10th Lancashire Fusiliers he went to France. It wasn't too long before he was promoted to Corporal after being wounded on the 21st March. After spending a short time in Hospital at Ronen he was posted back to England. He served for a time at Cromer before being drafted back to France the following September. He was killed by a sniper at Neuvilly, France on the 12th of October 1918, just one month before the Armistice was signed. He was reported as having been a very cheerful and bright soldier. The officer who was with him, at the time of the action, called on Coorporal Lester's parents and told them of his gallantry on that morning and that he had forwarded details of the action to his Colonel. By his action that day he had saved at least six lives. A quote from one of Frank Lester's friends "He was an old Boy's Brigade boy, who was very bright and cheerful, helped his father with his market garden, and was a true soldier." That day, the12th of October 1918, the 10th Battalion won one Victoria Cross, two Military Crosses, a Distinguished Conduct Medal and three Military Medals. (More to Add.)
Alf's notes on his life
During the Burma Expedition, on 4th May, 1889 whilst the Chin Field Force were attacking the village of Tartan, Surgeon Le Quesne remained for a period of about 10 minutes within five yards of the loopholed stockade, from where the enemy were firing. Acting with perfect coolness and self-possession, he dressed up the wounds on Second Lieutenant Michel, of the Norfolk Regiment, who died shortly afterwards. He was himself severely wounded later whilst dressing the wounds of another officer.
Additional information
A he was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Giffard N Le Quesne of the Royal Jersey Artillery and his wife Augusta (daughter of Admiral Charles Simeon). He was educated in the Channel Isles and the King's College Hospital, London. He was Mentioned in Despatches during the Burma Expedition of 1889. He also received the Medal and Clasp. Serving with the Chin Lushai Field Force in 1890 and with the Wuntho Field Force in 1891, getting Clasps for each. In 1898 he was promoted Major . He served in the South African War getting the Queen's Medal, Cape Colony, 1901-2, and three clasps. In 1906 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, retiring in December 1918. He enjoyed shooting and tennis. LESTER, Frank (Reg,No. 740). Private 10th Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers Corporal Lester was Born on at West View, Huyton the son of Market Gardener, John Lester and his wife Ellen. His education was at Hoylake National School. He joined the 10th South Lancashire Regiment in March 1916. He was promoted to Sergeant Instructor and trained soldiers at Prees Heath and Kimmel Park. Transferred to the 10th Lancashire Fusiliers he went to France. It wasn't too long before he was promoted to Corporal after being wounded on the 21st March. After spending a short time in Hospital at Ronen he was posted back to England. He served for a time at Cromer before being drafted back to France the following September. He was killed by a sniper at Neuvilly, France on the 12th of October 1918, just one month before the Armistice was signed. He was reported as having been a very cheerful and bright soldier. The officer who was with him, at the time of the action, called on Coorporal Lester's parents and told them of his gallantry on that morning and that he had forwarded details of the action to his Colonel. By his action that day he had saved at least six lives. A quote from one of Frank Lester's friends "He was an old Boy's Brigade boy, who was very bright and cheerful, helped his father with his market garden, and was a true soldier." That day, the12th of October 1918, the 10th Battalion won one Victoria Cross, two Military Crosses, a Distinguished Conduct Medal and three Military Medals. (More to Add.)
* Royal Army Medical Corps.
Born on: 18th February 1896 at Huyton, Liverpool..
Died on: 12th October 1918 at Neuvilly, France.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Canford Cemetery, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol. Memorials at: Neuvilly Communal Cemetery and a Plaque in the Public Library at Irby, Cheshire
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