Name
Horace Spencer Francis
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/08/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
58015
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
17th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 6.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone, he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing in Belgium.
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Broxbourne (*1)
Pre War
Horace Spencer FRANCIS was born in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, in 1897, son of Cyril Spencer Francis a Boot Maker and Repairer and Kate Farris Francis (nee Scott). The eldest of their two children. His parents were married in 1895, in Paddington, London.
1901 Census records Horace aged 3, living with his parents and 3-month-old brother Basil, at Woodland View, Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Herts.
1911 Census, Horace (13) and brother Basil (10) are at school, living with their parents at 86 Amwell Street, Hoddesdon, Herts.
Wartime Service
Horace enlisted at Hoddesdon, Herts, posted to the London Divisional Cyclist Company, issued with the service No. 174, later transferred to The Kings (Liverpool Regiment) with the service No. 58015.
On completion of his training, he was sent to the Western Front. He was Killed in Action on 4th August 1917, aged 20, possible at the Battle of Pilkem Ridge, he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, to the missing in Belgium. Panel 6.
Additional Information
His mother received a dependents pension of 3s/6d, a week from 26th February 1918. His effects of £5-06s-00d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £6, went to his father Cyril Francis.
*1 Believed educated at Broxbourne C Of E Primary School, Broxbourne.
Horace is also commemorated on the family headstone in Hoddesdon Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO HORACE (Francis) SON OF ABOVE (Kate Francis)
KILLED IN ACTION AUGUST 1917 AGED 20 YEARS
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox
