Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Francis was the son of James MUIRHEAD & Euphemia MCLEAN and was born on the 9th of October 1864 in Adelaide, SA.

His parents were married on the 24th of February 1854 in Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland.

His father was the son of Robert Hunter MUIRHEAD & Christina MITCHELL and was born in 1834 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
His mother was born on the 27th of May 1833 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

Francis was the sixth child born into the family of 11 children.
______________________

His parents and eldest brother had immigrated to South Australia on board the William Stevenson on the 1st of February 1855.
Also on board were his paternal grandparents.

His father was a painter and the family lived in Elizabeth Street, Norwood.

After his schooling Francis followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Painter.

Francis married Agnes Isabel DOCKING on the 2nd of June 1888 at the residence of F Aitcheson, Goodwood, SA.
Agnes was the daughter of William DOCKING & Rebecca MCCROSSAN and was born on the 17th of May 1866 in Middleton, SA.

In March 1894 they left Adelaide bound for the new Pyap Reach Village Settlement on the River Murray.
A few years later most of the villagers had abandoned the settlement, including Francis and Agnes who moved back to Adelaide and made their new home in Catherine Street, Kensington.

Francis enlisted into the 8th South Australian Commonwealth Horse on the 21st of April 1902 and allotted the Regimental Number 77 and posted to “A” Squadron with the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant.
He embarked from Pt Adelaide on board the transport ship St. Andrew on the 26th of May 1902 and arrived in Durban on the 19th of June.

Whilst they were on the voyage the Boer forces surrendered on the 31st of May, so upon arrival the left wing of the Battalion proceeded to Newcastle under the command of Major Osborne and the right wing remained in Durban.
Francis received at £100 bonus as well as his pay for the “cruise”.

The Battalion was only in South Africa for 12 days before embarking at Durban on the 1st of July on board the transport ship Manchester Merchant, disembarking in Adelaide on the 24th of July.

By 1908 they had moved to Cricket Avenue, Mt Albert, New Zealand.
They never had their own children but they adopted Lindsay Gordon and he took on their surname.
Lindsay was born on the 30th of January 1908 in New Zealand.

By 1911 they had moved to 18 Franklin Road, Auckland West, New Zealand and a few years later they returned to South Australia and moved to McKenzie Town, near Pinnaroo.

On Friday the 5th of February 1915 their family home in McKenzie Town burnt to the ground with all their possesions.
Their home was known as one of the most substantial and prettiest in the town, containing 5 rooms and made of reinforced concrete.

The fire started about 1 p.m. and by two o’clock there was nothing left.
Agnes had filled a box iron in readiness for use and adjourned to another room to have her lunch, leaving the iron in the kitchen.
It is believed a spark blew from it and ignited some of the furniture. Agnes was attracted by a noise and opened the door to investigate, when she was almost enveloped in flames. She ran screaming from the house and called to her neighbour, Mrs. Vaughan.
Several other women were soon on the scene, but for awhile there was not a man to be found.

At the age of 51, Francis enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 25th of August 1915 in Adelaide and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot with the rank of Corporal. He was then transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements in Morphettville Camp.

Francis embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 11th of January 1916, disembarking in Suez on the 9th of February. He then served in England.

With his health failing, Francis embarked from England on board HMAT Argyllshire on the 31st of February 1918. He disembarked in Capetown before re embarking on the 30th of March on board HMAT Osterley, disembarked in Melbourne on the 15th of April and entrained to Adelaide the following day.

He headed for his home in Pinnaroo and arrived by train at the railway station on Tuesday the 23rd of April and upon his arrival he was given a welcome home by the Cheer-Up Society.

Francis was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit, on Monday 29th of April 1918 and on that evening the local residents held a welcome home for Francis in the local Institute.

Francis then became the first President of the Pinnaroo RSL Sub-Branch.

In May 1937 Francis and Agnes were farewelled by their friends in the Pinnaroo Institute as they were moving back to Adelaide.

They moved to 25 First Street, Cheltenham and Francis joined the West Croydon and Kilkenny RSL Sub-Branch.

Francis died on the 27th of June 1943 at his home, 25 First Street, Cheltenham and was buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery the following day; Section AX, Drive B, Path 3, Plot 1AN

Military

Boer War

At the age of 38, Francis enlisted into the 8th South Australian Commonwealth Horse on the 21st of April 1902 and allotted the Regimental Number 77 and posted to “A” Squadron with the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant.

The Battalion comprised of 13 officers, 232 other ranks and 250 horses and embarked from Pt Adelaide on board the transport ship St. Andrew on the 26th of May 1902 and arrived in Durban on the 19th of June.

Whilst they were on the voyage the Boer forces surrendered on the 31st of May, so upon arrival the left wing of the Battalion proceeded to Newcastle under the command of Major Osborne and the right wing remained in Durban.
Francis received at £100 bonus as well as his pay for the “cruise”.

The Battalion was only in South Africa for 12 days before embarking at Durban on the 1st of July on board the transport ship Manchester Merchant, disembarking in Adelaide on the 24th of July.
The South Australian Squadrons were disbanded on the 9th of August.

WW1

At the age of 51, Francis enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 25th of August 1915 in Adelaide and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot with the rank of Corporal.
He listed his wife, Agnes, of Pinnaroo, as his next of kin.
He brought his age back to 47 on his enlistment papers.

On the 1st of November he was transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements in Morphettville Camp.

Francis embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 11th of January 1916, disembarking in Suez on the 9th of February.
Francis was ill when he arrived and was immediately admitted into the Government Hospital in Suez, suffering with Pleurisy & Influenza.

On the 10th of March he was transferred to the 3rd Australian General Hospital in Abbassia and after twelve days he was discharged to the Overseas Base Camp in Tel-el-Kebir.

He was admitted back into the 3rd Australian General Hospital in April before being discharged back to camp on the 28th of April.
On the 6th of June Francis embarked from Alexandria and disembarked ten days later at Plymouth.

The following month, on the 17th of July he was detached to duty as Batman at the Tidworth Musketry School.
After three weeks here he was transferred to the 8th Training Battalion in Hurdcott and then to the 2nd Training Battalion, No.5 Camp in Dorrington.

Francis was admitted to Fovant Hospital on the 14th of December and spent Christmas 1916 here until he was discharged and rejoined his Battalion on the 28th of January 1917.
The following month he was transferred to No.5 HQ in Hurdcott and then on the 29th of May he was attached to No.5 Group for duty.
On the 14th of September he was transferred back to 8th Training Battalion for ten days before being transferred to “D” Sub Depot in Parkhouse.

The following month, on the 24th of October Francis was transferred to No.4 Command Depot in Codford for nine days before being attached to HQ Depots in Tidworth for Guard duty at Bhurtpore Barracks.

Francis then suffered from Influenza again and was admitted into the Delhi Military Hospital in Tidworth on the 11th of January 1918.
He was discharged after five days and reported to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth.

With his health failing, Francis embarked from England on board HMAT Argyllshire on the 31st of February 1918. He disembarked in Capetown before re embarking on the 30th of March on board HMAT Osterley, disembarked in Melbourne on the 15th of April and entrained to Adelaide the following day.

Francis was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit, on the 29th of April 1918 and awarded the British War and Victory Medals.