Francis Aylmer Maxwell
Lieutenant, Indian Staff Corps attached to Roberts' Light Horse
- Register No.
- 847 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Indian Staff Corps attached to Roberts' Light Horse (register: Robert's Light Horse) all Robert's Light Horse VCs →
- Date of action
- 31 March 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- 8th March 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Born
- 7th September 1871 at Guildford Surrey
- Died
- in action on 21st of September 1917 near, Ypres, Belgium
- Memorial / grave
- at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium and in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh
Digest of citation
Lieutenant MAXWELL was one of three officers who showed great gallantry and disregard of danger in carrying out the saving of the guns of that battery at Korn Spruit, South Africa, on 31st March 1900. Lieutenant MAXWELL went out on five occasions, and along with Captain Humphreys and some artillerymen brought in two guns and three limbers, one of which they dragged in by hand. He also went out with Captain Humphreys and Lieutenants Stirling in an attempt to rescue the last gun. He remained there until the last gun was abandoned. Additional information:. Brigadier-General Maxwell was a Companion of the Order of the Star of India, he also held the Distinguished Service Order and Bar. In 1911 he was Military Secretary to Lord Hardinge, in 1916 he commanded the 12th Battalion,the Middlesex Regiment followed by the command of the 27th Infantry Brigade until his death in 1917
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MAXWELL, Francis Aylmer. (reg No. 847).
Lieutenant. Indian Staff Corps attached to Roberts' Light Horse.
London Gazetted on 8th March 1901.
Born on 7th September 1871 at Guildford Surrey Killed in action on 21st of September 1917 near, Ypres, Belgium.
Memorial on grave at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium and in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh.
Digest of Citation reads: Lieutenant MAXWELL was one of three officers who showed great gallantry and disregard of danger in carrying out the saving of the guns of that battery at Korn Spruit, South Africa, on 31st March 1900. Lieutenant MAXWELL went out on five occasions, and along with Captain Humphreys and some artillerymen brought in two guns and three limbers, one of which they dragged in by hand. He also went out with Captain Humphreys and Lieutenants Stirling in an attempt to rescue the last gun. He remained there until the last gun was abandoned. Additional information:. Brigadier-General Maxwell was a Companion of the Order of the Star of India, he also held the Distinguished Service Order and Bar. In 1911 he was Military Secretary to Lord Hardinge, in 1916 he commanded the 12th Battalion,the Middlesex Regiment followed by the command of the 27th Infantry Brigade until his death in 1917.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium and in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Francis Aylmer Maxwell by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.