WILLIAMS, Francis James
| Service Number: | 7340 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, 28 July 1886 |
| Home Town: | Box Hill, Whitehorse, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Theatre proprietor |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 4 October 1917, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Ypres Plot IV, Row L, Grave 2. HE FOUGHT AND DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 2 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7340, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 1917: | Involvement Private, 7340, 14th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Feb 1917: | Embarked Private, 7340, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Melbourne | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 7340, 5th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 7340 awm_unit: 5 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-10-04 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Francis was one of four brothers who served with the AIF during WW1. They were the sons of Emma Lee Williams, of Canterbury, Victoria, Australia, and the late George Abley Williams, who had passed away during 1915. He was also husband of Ada May Williams, of Box Hill, Victoria, and the father of a young daughter.
His older brother, 532 C.Q.M.S. George Frederick Williams 21st Battalion AIF, had been killed in action at Mouquet Farm on 23 August 1916, aged 39.
Francis was very well known around Box Hill for running the Box Hill Pictures prior to enlisting, and he also acted as manager of the St. Louis Picture Theatre, South Melbourne. He took part in many local clubs and institutions, being a prominent member of the Surrey Park Swimmers' club, and the Nunawading Football Club in years gone by.
Francis spent a few months passing through a course of training at Duntroon College, and left Australia on 19 February 1917, aboard the ill-fated 'Ballarat' which was torpedoed in the English Channel.
Francis only joined the 5th Battalion in Belgium five days before he was killed in action during the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 October 1917.
His two other brothers who served with the AIF were returned to Australia in 1919.