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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
2nd Lt. William Joseph Francis
British Army 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
from:41 Frederick Street, Grays Inn Road, London
(d.23rd March 1918)
William Francis attested 6 June 1916, and was initially in the Artists Rifles (28th London) as a private. In Jan 1917 he applied for a commission, listing his present address as "D 'Coy' Hut no.1, 2nd Artists Rifles OTC, Hare Hall Camp, Romford, Essex." OTC is "Officer Training Corps".
He initially served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 12th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, but in Jan 1918 this battalion was "rationalized" as part of a move to reduce the number of under-sized battalions, and the men were dispersed to other battalions, Francis ending up in the 11th Battalion.
When the Germans launched their major offensive known as Operation Michael (March 21st 1918), the 11th Battalion found itself under heavy pressure, and made a fighting retreat to take up defensive positions just south of the town of Jussy, behind a canal, reaching their position about 10pm.
At dawn on the 22nd they reported having units of mixed detachments holding their left flank, and the 7th Bedfords on the right, with the 6th Northants in support. The bridges had not been effectively destroyed in the words of the unit diary of the 11th Battalion, and German attacks began at noon. A general assault began at 3pm, and the position held by the Bedfords was briefly taken before a counter attack by the Northants drove back the Germans and reestablished the front by 6pm. (The junction between the 11th Battalion and the Bedfords & Northants was the railway bridge.) The Germans made determined efforts to cross the canal in the night but were beaten back. Although they didn't know it at the time, by dawn the Germans had succeeded in forcing the canal at Jussy on their left flank. At 6am on the 23rd they came under flanking fire from Jussy, forcing them off the canal bank. By 8.30am it became obvious that their left flank had been left completely in the air. An officer scouting on his own reported that the enemy had penetrated to a depth of a mile on their left flank, and held Holnon Wood.
Recorded under the entry for 10am, the unit diary says This retirement from close contact with the enemy who was pressing the Battalion from front and left flank was a very difficult operation. In covering the withdrawal of Bedfords & Northants the right flank also became exposed. The enemy pressing closely in large numbers cut off many of our men and very few were enabled to get back under heavy MG fire from both flanks. Capt. Brookling was here wounded and cut off after behaving with the greatest gallantry throughout the action.
At some point on the 22nd or 23rd March 1918, William Francis lost his life. His body was never recovered, and his military file contains extensive documentation of attempts to determine the date and cause of death. It was initially ruled that he was killed on the 22nd, based on the testimony of a private John J Goodman hospitalized in London, who stated that Francis was his platoon commander and that he had seen the body blown up by artillery, but with the face clearly visible. He is commemorated at the Pozieres War Memorial as having died on the 22nd.
However, subsequent correspondence from Capt Brookling from his POW camp in Germany would cause a reassessment. The German Red Cross Evidence Form contained the following: Date and place of disappearance: 23rd Mar 1918 Jussy. In a shallow trench near the Canal bank at Jussy. Was he killed outright? Yes. And by whom was he buried? The enemy overran the position a few hours after his death consequently he was not buried by British troops at all. Can the witness (state the names) of other witnesses? Several men near must have seen but unfortunately I cannot state any names.
William Francis Snr (Lt. Francis father) then investigated further. Correspondence to the War Office from Francis Snr stated that he had visited Private Goodman in hospital, and after talking with him and showing him a photo of his son, was convinced that Goodman was mistaken about the identity of the officer he'd seen killed. He also stated that he'd spoken with his son's fellow officers in the hospital, and one (not named) stated he'd been sniping with Francis the morning of the 23rd and another (2nd Lt Spence) had spoken to him on the telephone that morning.
Captain Brookling's father would forward a letter from his son to Francis Snr stating I am sorry to say that 2/Lt Francis was killed about 2 hours before I was captured, he was shot through the head; Francis did splendidly that day, he was a fine & gallant officer and I liked him immensely. Give my deepest sympathies to his people.
Based on the above, it appears that William Francis was probably killed on the morning of the 23rd as the battalion tried to extricate itself from close contact with the enemy.
William Francis left a widow (E. Maud) and a baby daughter (Eleanor). On Jan 1st 1919, his elder sister Margaret would marry a New Zealand corporal, and shortly thereafter his entire family would move to New Zealand.
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