Military History

Francis is listed as being killed in action on 1st March 1917 at Vimy Ridge. The 54th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Vimy Ridge – 1 Mar 1917: The Battalion took part in a Divisional Gas Attack. Gas being discharged on the 11^th & 12^th Canadian Infantry Brigade’s fronts. Object to destroy enemy works and gain information. The 2^nd Canadian Division on our right (22^nd Battn) co-operated with a smoke barrage. The 75^th Canadian Infantry Battalion on our left. 15 officers and 390 OR took place. Programme as follows:

First gas discharge 3am second gas discharge 4.45am. Advance from assembly trench to No-Mans Land 5.15am, assault 5.40am. Owing to unfavourable wind second discharge did not take place on the Brigade frontage. Enemy retaliated as first was discharged with heavy machine gun fire and gas shells, quietening down about 3.34am.

Advance to No-Mans Land carried out without serious opposition but heavy rifle and machine gun fire opened all along the front as the Battalion deployed in No Mans Land. First discharge of gas apparently had no effect on the enemy. In the face of heavy rifle and machine gun assault was carried out at 5.40am but owing to strong wire entanglements before their front line no headway could be made owing to the retirement of the Battalion on our left confirmed shortly after.

Artillery barrage was not sufficiently concentrated & caused no slackening of the enemies fire. Was registered correctly on our right but very short on our left and centre, where the chief casualties occurred.

Casualties: Officers 6 killed, 7 wounded. Other ranks 77 killed, 126 wounded, 10 missing.

At night efforts were made to bring in wounded from No Mans Land bur owing to alertness of the enemy had to be abandoned.

List of Officer Casualties: Killed Lt Col Kemball, Major Lucas, Capt Tooker, Lt’s Jackson, Reddock, Evans. Wounded: Capt Cameron, Lt’s Hosie, Letson, Mawhinney, Graves, Foote & Johnson.