Frank Woodhall Francis
Frank Woodhall Francis
Frank Woodhall Francis was born 1st July 1887 in the Elham district of Kent. He was the son of Kate and Francis James Francis a house painter. Frank was the second of nine children, Christiana, Percy, Marguerite K, Violet Lilian, Mabel, Arthur Ethelbert, Harold and Charles William being the others. The family lived at 37 Great Fenchurch St, Folkestone in 1891 and by 1896-7 had moved to 1 Cambridge Terrace off St Michael’s St, Folkestone. Frank went to Dover Road School and then became a general labourer.
His father died in 1906 following an accident whilst serving in the merchant Navy and as a result of this, Arthur and Harold are sent to the Seaman’s Boys Orphanage, Southampton, Hampshire (1911 census). Kate, his mother, is a widow in the 1911 census and was living with Maggie, Violet, Mabel and Willie. It is unclear where Frank is in 1911 but he could have already started his voyage to New Zealand. Frank emigrated to New Zealand and his brother Percy emigrated to America. His mother remarried in (September) 1912, to Walter T. Owen, a bricklayer and one of her boarderers.
Frank enlisted into the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 20th February 1915 having passed the army medical the previous day. His medical stated that he was 28 years, 5 foot 7 inches, with a dark complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and a scar on the right side of his face. Frank had been living at Wellesley House, Wellesley St, Auckland and worked for the N.Z.Portland Cement Company, Whangarei, as a general labourer.
Frank’s first posting as private 8/1984, the 10th Company Otago Regiment was in the Dardanelles at Gallipoli from 8th June 1915 until August 1915. From here he was shipped out to Egypt for several months before being sent to France in April 1916. On the 7th June 1917 Frank was wounded and spent time in a field hospital until the 22nd June 1917 when he reported back to base at Etaples. It is believed that whilst here he undertook further training at the 2nd Brigade School and was promoted to Lance Corporal.
He was given leave in England 15th January 1918 for a week and possibly came home to Folkestone. After his return to France, Frank relinquished his rank at his own request, on 7th February 1918 and made a will leaving everything to his sister Chrissie on 23rd March 1918. He was wounded on 2nd April 1918, with a gun shot wound to right thigh, right forearm and head/neck, possibly from machine gun fire or a shell burst. He died on 13th April 1918 at the 18th General Field Hospital and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, France. He is commemorated on Folkestone War Memorial, along with his brother Arthur Ethelbert Francis.
Another brother, Harold served with the 7th Royal West Surrey Regiment and was badly wounded on 9th August 1918 with a gunshot wound to right side and right arm but survived the war.
Arthur and Frank Francis
This photo is believed to have been taken in January 1918 when Frank was home on leave and just three months before both men had been killed whilst serving in the Great War.
Frank's memorial plaque which would have been sent to his sister Chrissie.
