South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | British War & Victory Medals | Arras Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 9 Nov 1916 | ~ | Stockton |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Battle of Arras (1917) | After 12 Apr 1916 in London | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| near St. Aubin | Trooper 4257 1st Life Guards | |
Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)
The Household Battalion was an unusual unit formed as an infantry battalion at Knightsbridge Barracks in London on 1 September 1916. The troops were drawn from the reserve units of the Household Cavalry (the 1st and 2nd Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards). Much retraining and re-equipment was necessary to convert the cavalry troops into foot soldiers, capable of conducting the increasingly mechanised war on the Western Front. Courtesy The Long Long TrailJack is listed as being killed in action on 11 Apr 1917 and the war diary tells us that the Battalion were ordered to try and capture enemy positions at Plouvain, Greenland Hill and Hydrobad Redoubt from their positions near St. Aubin. It appears that the operation was successful although the report on the outcome of the planned operation could not be found.
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Bapitsm Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 28 Jan 1896 at West Thurrock, Essex | 16 Apr 1896 at West Thurrock |
| Parents Names | Parents Abode |
| Frederick James and Lucy Ann Francis | 53 London Road, South Stifford |
| School | College |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1891 - Coopers Farm, Purfleet, West Thurrock | 1911 - Cement Labourer |
| 1901 - Hazeldene, London Road, Stifford, Essex | 1915 - Cement worker |
| 1911 - 53 London Road, South Stifford | |
| 1915 - Stockton | |
Following research by Wendy, our brilliant in house researcher, we believe that the John Edwin aka Edwin John aka Jack Francis detailed above is the Jack Francis mentioned on the Stockton war memorial for the following reasons:
- The 1915, 1918 and 1919 electorial rolls list William Jones and Georgina Maud FRANCIS as living in Stockton
- William and Georgina had a daughter, Annie, who was baptised and buried in Stockton aged 1 day.
- William was the son of Frederick James and Lucy Ann Francis (see above)
- John Edwin is shown as the brother of William and was a cement worker on the 1911 census and we believe that they both worked at the cement works in Stockton
- A newspaper report mentions a cricket match between Leamington Hastings and Stockton and the Stockton team contained Jack Francis and a W (William?) Francis.
- A further newspaper report states that Trooper E Francis of the Household Battalion and son of Mr & Mrs Francis of 53 London Road, Stifford had played for Coventry City in the Southern League which confirms his links with the Stockton area.
