| Date of birth: | 1886 |
| Place of birth: | Guernsey |
| Regiment: | Devonshire |
| Battalion: | 8th |
| Rank / Service No: | Private, 30691 |
| Died: | 9th May 1917, aged 30 years |
| Commemorated: | Arras Memorial, France |
Francis was the oldest of 3 siblings born to Francis Philippe and Henrietta Le Ruez.
There is no proof of the couple marrying but the union probably occurred on Guernsey in the mid 1880’s.
Both parents were born on Guernsey, Francis on 18 November 1859 and Henrietta on 27 May 1863.
It’s unknown when the family moved to Southampton but they were living at 15 Floating Bridge Road at the 1911 Census.
Francis, a stevedore, died in Southampton in 1921; Henrietta passed away in Leighton Buzzard in 1942.
Siblings
Francis Harold
Thomas C. b. 1888 Guernsey d. 1922 Croydon Married Ruth Cornwell in Kingston in 1915.
Ida Violet b. 1890 Guernsey d. 1978 Lewes Married Louis A. Stracey in Southampton in 1911.
Francis, also a stevedore, married Amelia A. Jones in Southampton in 1912. Nothing is known of Amelia, but the couple did have a daughter….
Eileen Isabelle b. 5 July 1915 Southampton d. 24 October 2008 (aged 93 years) at 21 Seaview Road, Peacehaven, E.Sussex Married Arthur W. Bagnall in Lewes in 1939.
The battalion arrived in France on 26 July 1915 and they were stationed at Cambrin, near Bethune, in early October 1915 as part of the 20th Brigade in the 7th Division.
On 25 September 1915, the battalion fought at the Battle of Loos, where they endured 639 casualties.
The battalion’s first real action of 1916 was on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, near Mametz, where the battalion lost 45 men killed and 260 wounded.
The 8th was withdrawn from the Somme at the end of July 1916, having suffered even more severe losses.
During April 1917 and the Battle of Arras, the 8th and 9th Devonshires attacked Ecoust, with great success and few casualties.
It is possible that Francis was injured during this battle and died of his wounds the following month.
| Researcher: | Mark Heritage |
| Published: | 7th November 2016 |
| Updated: |
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