| Regimental number | 852 |
| Place of birth | Carlton Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Plumber |
| Address | Wellington Street, Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 21 |
| Height | 5' 8" |
| Weight | 142 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, John Francis, 393 Wellington Street, Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, D Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 118 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915. Found guilty, Deversoir, 9 February 1916, of insubordination, 7 February 1916: awarded 2 days' Pack Drill by Captain C. Mills. Found guilty, Tel el Kebir, 21 March 1916, of breaking ranks without permission, 20 March 1916: awarded 1 day's Pack Drill by Captain C. Mills. Found guilty, Ferry Post, 13 May 1916, of breaking ranks without permission, 12 May 1916: awarded 5 days' confined to barracks by Captain C. Mills. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France 23 June 1916. Wounded in action, 20 July 1916. Previous report of missing now, 28 July 1916, wounded and missing, 20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 1 August 1916, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'. Statement, Red Cross File No 1100702, 915 Pte H.J. PHILLIPS, D company, 31st Bn (patient, Kensing Kent VAD 6 Hospital), 11 November 1916: 'Informant states that on 20th July I saw Francis killed by a shell.' Second statement, 911 Pte G. LANG, 31st Bn,13 March 1917: 'Witness says soldier was a sergeant, and was killed at Fleurbaix, in the front line of trenches. Witness was alongside of soldier, when he was struck by a piece of shrapnel, and killed instantly. Later he was buried in a cemetery at the head of the sap, called Cellar Farm Cemetery.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, FRANCIS William John
Red Cross file 1100702 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
