Jack (John) Francis was born in 1892 at Clunton, Clunbury, Shropshire. He was the fifth of six children of William and Fanny Francis. His father was a farmer and miller at Upper House farm at Clunton. Jack’s siblings were – Eva, Fanny, William, Richard and the youngest, Maurice. Jack became a bank clerk and in 1911, age 19, was living and working in Nottingham; it is not known which bank he worked for.  He would later move to Oswestry, probably as a ‘posting’ to one of the town’s banks, where he enlisted in 1915. He initially joined 26 Bn Royal Fusiliers – a service or ‘pals’ and known as the Banker’s Battalion. He went over to France with the battalion on 4 May 1916. He was wounded on or around 19 September 1916 during the Somme Offensive at Flers-Courcelette. He returned to duty at the end of January 1917 and was posted to 7 Bn Royal Fusiliers – a reserve battalion, and then, about a fortnight later, on 9 February, was posted to 10 Bn Royal Fusiliers – the Stockbroker’s Battalion.

Jack was KIA on 23 April 1917 at Fampoux during the Second Battle of the Scarpe, Arras Offensive. He is buried at Chili Trench Cemetery, just behind the front line where he was killed –  he is known to be buried in the cemetery but his grave is not known, potentially having been destroyed in later fighting. He is also recorded on the war memorials at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry and at Clunbury. John is also commemorated in the Barclay’s Bank Roll of Honour and, there is also a ‘J Francis’ recorded on Gobowen War Memorial, it is not known if this is him.

Acknowledgements.

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