Francis Morphet Twisleton
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New Zealand
New Zealand Military ForcesFrancis Morphet Twisleton | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Twisleton at Gallipoli, August 1915 | |
| Born | 17 February 1873 Settle, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 15 November 1917 (aged 44) (DOW) Ayun Kara, Palestine |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Branch | New Zealand Military Forces |
| Rank | Major |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | Military Cross |
| Other work | Farmer, author |
Francis Morphet Twisleton (17 February 1873 – 15 November 1917) was a New Zealand soldier who served in the Boer War and the First World War and became well known for his writings of soldiering life.
Born in England, he and his brother emigrated to New Zealand in 1895 and worked as farm labourers. In 1900, he joined the New Zealand military to serve in South Africa during the Boer War. He wrote extensively of life as a soldier and many of his letters were published in newspapers. After his service ended, he began farming and also was active in the Legion of Frontiersmen, eventually becoming its New Zealand commandant. During the First World War, he served at Gallipoli, on the Western Front, and in Palestine. He died of wounds received in an action in Palestine.
Francis Morphet Twisleton, known as Frank, was born on 17 February 1873, in Settle, Yorkshire, England to a farmer and his wife. After completing his education, he went farming in Yorkshire. In 1895, he emigrated to New Zealand with his brother Thomas and worked his way around the country as a farm labourer.[1]
Boer War
In January 1900, he joined the Second New Zealand Contingent, which was being raised for service in the Boer War. He arrived in South Africa the following month. Thomas followed him to South Africa as part of the Fourth New Zealand Contingent but was killed in action in 1901. Frank served as a mounted soldier in the country until May 1901. He wrote home regularly and his letters were published in a number of newspapers in New Zealand. Following his return to New Zealand, these letters formed the basis of a book, entitled With the New Zealanders at the front: a story of twelve months' campaigning in South Africa. In the book, he commented extensively on the competence of British Army officers as well as the treatment of soldiers.[1]
Interwar period
Twisleton based himself near Gisborne and took up farming. In 1905, he married Emily Mary Speedy, and the couple would go on to have two daughters. In 1911 he became involved with the Legion of Frontiersmen, an organisation which found favour with many veterans from the Boer War like Twisleton. It was run along military lines with imperialist sympathies with an aim to provide men with military skills should they be required for service in the British Empire. Twisleton was involved in organising and training of a squadron of horsemen for the Legion's Poverty Bay branch. He eventually was appointed the New Zealand commandant of the Legion.[1]
