S2712
FRANCIS, Archibald Roy
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 July 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Fitzroy, Victoria, 28 July 1891 |
| Home Town: | Port Victoria, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Rose Park, South Australia, 10 May 1974, aged 82 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Cowell Men from Franklin Harbour WW1 Roll of Honour, Gumeracha Town Hall WW1 Roll of Honor, South Australian Education Department Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jun 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 26 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA |
|---|
Archibald Roy Francis
Archibald Francis was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne, and enlisted on 30/8/1915, aged 24 years 11 months. A schoolteacher, he began in the Army as an "Education Officer". He married Emily Grace Garnett in 1915.
He left Australia on HMAT "Borda" in June 1917 with the 32 Battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross for showing "courage and initiative" when, from 29th September to 1st October 1918 during an attack on the Hindenburg Line at Bellicourt, his Commanding Officer was killed. He assumed command, and for the 3 days led with great skill, taking and consolidating objectives in the face of heavy machine-gun fire. He showed great powers of leadership. (From 2nd Supplement No 31583 to the London Gazette, dated 4/10/1919).( See also full service record on the National Archives of Australia website).
He and Emily had 4 children, Jean (b.1916), Bryan (1919), Elma (1922) and Patricia (1924). (From SAGHS website). They were living at Millswood SA by this time.
Their only son Bryan, SX1194, served in World War 2 with 2/10 Australian Infantry Battalion, and was killed in action in Libya on 15/5/1941, during the Siege of Tobruk. (see entry for Bryan Francis SX1194 on this website).
Archibald Francis died 10/5/1974 aged 84 and Emily Francis 25/10/1973 aged 81. Both are buried at Centennial Park Cemetery. (see Centennial Park Cemetery website).
J. Soroka, Seaton, SA. 2016
Submitted 19 August 2016 by Joan Soroka
Biography
Archibald Roy Francis was born 28.7.1891 in Victoria to Patrick Wilfred FRANCIS and Mary Mabel GLYDE (who came from South Australia)
He enlisted 25.7.1916 in Adelaide and returned to Australia 28.3.1919
2nd Lieutenant, 32nd Battalion, 13th Re-inforcements, whose Unit embarked from Adelaide on HMAT Borda on 23.6.1917
Service Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Awards: Awarded the Military Cross
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