The AIF Project

Henry FRANCIS

Regimental number1938
Place of birthAlexandria, New South Wales
True NameWHITE, Henry Francis
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationWaiter
AddressAlexandria, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 4"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Mary Francis, 38 Mitchell Road, Alexandria, Sydney, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date20 January 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name14th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/31/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 17 April 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll14th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 27 August 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Date of death27 August 1915
Age at death22
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 41), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 9 July 1915.

Reported missing, 27 August 1915.

Court of Enquiry, held at Serapeum, 6-8-28 April 1916, declared fate to be 'Killed in action, 27 August 1915'.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, FRANCIS Henry

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.