The following obituary for Francis Durrant appeared in the Times newspaper.
Obituary in the Times newspaper | |
Date | Obituary |
8 December 1896 | Rear-Admiral Francis Durrant, C.M.G., died on the 6th inst., at his residence, Red-house, Hursley, Hants. He was the second son of the late Mr. Bosville Durrant, of Southover, Sussex, and was born in 1837. He entered the Navy in June, 1851, and served as midshipman in the Trafalgar in the Black Sea, and in the Falcon in the Baltic [this service is not contained in his Serivce Record from the National Archives in Kew, or in Navy Lists of the period] during the Russian war (Baltic, Crimean, and Turkish medals, Sevastopol clasp). He became sub-lieutenant on June 8, 1857, and received his lieutenant's commission on May 19, 1859. He was promoted commander on September 2, 1869, from the Royal yacht, and captain on May 15, 1876, on the termination of the Prince of Wales's visit to India. He was appointed by the Prince of Wales governor of Prince George of Wales when the Prince joined the Canada, under the command of Captain Durrant, in June, 1883, and he held the appointment till 1885. In August, 1884, he received a commandership of the Order of St. Michael and St. George for this service. In February, 1888, he was granted a captain's good service pension, which he gave up on January 29, 1891, on his promotion to flag rank. From September, 1889, to January, 1891, he was assistant to the Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves. He retired from the service on August 7, 1893. Admiral Durrant married, in 1877, Jessie, eldest daughter of Mr. William Liddiard, of Inverness-terrace, Kensington |