SAPPER HENRY FREDERICK FRANCIS

2893 – 3rd TUNNELLING COMPANY

As a single 29-year-old Miner, Henry Frederick Francis enlisted at Claremont Camp, Tasmania, on 21st January 1916. 5ft 8½in tall with a medium complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair, Henry named his father, John Francis of Bulumwaal, Victoria, as his Next of Kin.

Two of Henrys’ brothers had already enlisted in the Expeditionary Force; John, aged 38, in July 1915, and Reginald, aged 21, in November 1915.

Henry embarked from Melbourne on 4th April 1916 on board HMAT A14 ‘Euripides’, arriving at Marseilles, France on 17th May. He was officially taken on strength of the 3rd Aust. Tunnelling Coy on 30th September 1916

On 27th November 1916 he was working with his unit in the Black Watch Shaft at Hill 70, Loos. An enemy camouflet was blown opposite the gallery in which he was working at 12.40am destroying the gallery and killing Henry and 20 of his comrades. All were buried at Hersin Communal Cemetery.

The Personal Effects of Henry Francis, consisting only of pair of gloves, photos, letters, cards, discs 2, metal ring, thimble, medallions 3, coin were

received by John Francis 10th August 1917.

Major Alex Sanderson of the 3rd Aust. Tunnelling Coy. forwarded photographs of Henrys’ grave at Hersin from the Company Headquarters at Tournai, Belgium on 21st May 1919

John Francis died in 1921.

The Memorial Scroll for Henry and the “Where The Australians Rest” pamphlet were sent to Mr John Francis 25th January 1922.

His Memorial Plaque was received by Mr Edward Francis (Executor in Estate of the late John Francis deceased) on 12th August 1922

Henrys’ mother, Mary Ann Francis, received his Victory Medal (35741) 1st March 1923. His British War Medal (36012) was apparently not passed to the family and was returned to 3rd D.S. on 10th June 1928, where it may still reside.

2893 Henry Francis,3rd Tunn. Coy.Killed in Action at Hill 70 27-Nov-16

3989 Reginald FRANCIS,8th Bn.Died of Wounds at Lijssenthoek 20-Sep-17

4498 John FRANCIS,6th Bn.Killed in Action at Ypres 04-Oct-17

© Donna Baldey