Henry William Francis

Eldest son of Henry Francis and Barbara Wells. Henry was born in Poplar, England on February 6, 1897 and educated in London and Georgetown, the family having immigrated in 1907. Henry had five siblings.

At age 13 Henry started working as a “hand” at the Barber Paper and Coating Mills in Georgetown and by 1911, the Canadian Census noted that he was working 62 hours per week. Henry volunteered on August 6, 1914 with the 4th Battalion…two days after the declaration of war and left for overseas with the First Contingent.

He was 17 years old, although on enlistment he had reported that he was 1 year older. Henry went to France on February 6, 1915 and took part in various engagements, including the repulse of the German gas attack at Langemarck, until June 17, 1915 when he was shot through the temple by a sniper while taking a message down the trench. His Commanding Officer wrote “As a soldier there was none braver and none who played the game more manfully than did Henry”.

Henry was earning $15 per month. Lieutenant Reginald Cover wrote to this mother: “he was killed by a German sniper, he was a fine young soldier, obedient, alert and disciplined, one whom I could ill afford to lose”. Jack Peace wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Francis on June 18, 1915: “shot through the head about 7 in the morning. He and I were always together and were often called the twins. Bill Best, Leslie Bradley and myself made a cross and erected it over his grave bearing this inscription “In Memory of Pte. H. Francis 11183, killed in action, June 17th, 4th Batt. R.I.P.” Another son and brother lost to the horrors of war.

Henry is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, the Georgetown Cenotaph at Remembrance Park, and on a memorial stain glass window and the Honour Roll at St. George’s Anglican Church Georgetown.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on. Information provided by Rick Ruggle (Historian Lorne Scots Regiment), Canadiangreatwarproject.ca and Ancestry.ca

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