Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Francis was born on 22 October 1895 in Bowen, Queensland. He was the youngest child of Lewis and Mary Ann Dayes, who settled at Westella Selection, Kelsey Creek, near Proserpine. When Francis was 3 years old his mother died in a tragic accident and then his father died two years later. After his father's death the family selection had to be sold, and in all probability he moved with his sisters, Alice and Mary Ellen, and brothers George and John William, north to a tin mining district called Ewan, (inland from Townsville).

On 18 March 1916, at 20 years of age, Francis volunteered to fight in WW1. The Townsville Bulletin for Monday 20 march 1916, shows he was one of the sixteen Northern Volunteers who left on the previous Saturday by the Cooma (a merchant ship), headed for training at Chermside, in Brisbane. His occupation on enlistment was Miner, and his next of kin was Mrs Mary Ellen Carlson, of Ewan. (Alice died on 16/12/1915). Francis' Unit was the 47th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement, which was made up of Queensland and Tasmanian volunteers, and his regimental number was 2152. The Unit embarked from Brisbane on board HMAT A42 "Boorara" on 16 August 1916.

At first it all probably seemed like a big adventure for a young boy from the bush in far north Queensland. While on voyage to France, Francis "absented" himself from his troopship in Cape Town on 21 September 1916, failing to sail with his unit at noon. At 10 pm, he reported to the Military Authorities in Cape Town, embarked on the "Botanist" on 22 September 1916, and disembarked at Plymouth on the 19 October 1916. For this adventure he was fined 8 days pay.

Francis contracted mumps and was admitted to hospital in Codford, England on 20 November 1916, then discharged on 3 December 1916. He rejoined his Unit, the 47th, at Etaples on 6 February 1917, and fought with them until the Battle of Messines in Belgium 7-14 June 1917.

Poor Francis' big adventure ended when he was wounded in action on 7 June 1917, the first day of that battle. He was transferred to the 2nd Casuality Clearing Station, Belgium, where he died from his wounds on 9 June 1917. He is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Plot III, Row C, Grave No. 164), France. His name is on the Roll of Honour Board at the Australia War Memorial, along with his mates in the 47th Battalion, who also died in that terrible war. Francis' medals and memorial plaque were sent to his oldest brother, George James Dayes in Mareeba.