Name
Francis Edwin Hansford
29/09/1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/04/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
187246
Canadian Infantry
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOIS-CARRE BRITISH CEMETERY, THELUS
II. E. 15.
France
Headstone Inscription
"FOR SO HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP"
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Francis Edwin Hansford was born in Sligo, Ireland on 29th
September 1884, was one of five children born to Arthur Edgar Hansford, a P.O.
in the Royal Navy (B 1849 in Powerstock, Dorset) and his wife, Rhoda Hansford,
(nee Clark). (B 1846 in Beauchamp,
Somerset).
1891 Census records Francis aged 6, at School, living with
his parents, brothers, Albert 9, Frederick 7, Robert 4, and sister Rosa 1, in
St Ann’s Row, All Saints, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. His father had
now retired from the Royal Navy after 15 years’ service and was working as an
Assistant Warder for H.M. Prison Service, in Newcastle upon Tyne.
1901 Census records Francis aged 16, and working as a
Plumbers Boy, living with his parents, and four siblings at Wormwood Scrubs
Prison, Block 3, Hammersmith, London. Where his father was a Prison Warden.
On the 30th April 1903, Francis sailed from Liverpool aboard
the Allen Line “S.S. Ionian” for Quebec, Canada, arriving on 8th May 1903.
By 1915 his father had retired, and his parents moved to 12
Field Road, Oxhey, Herts.
Wartime Service
On the out break of
war Francis was working as a House Painter, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He
volunteered for war service and was Attested on 30th September
1915, in Winnipeg, and given the Service No. 187246. His service record gives
the following details. He was a member of the Local Militia, was 6’ tall, with a 39 ½” chest, a dark
complexion light blue eyes and dark brown hair. He also had a leaf with four
violets tattooed on his right forearm and his occupation was a House Painter.
He sailed for the UK with his
Battalion on 31st May 1916,
aboard the “RMS Olympic” (Sister ship to the RMS Titanic) from Halifax, Nova
Scotia, arriving in the UK on 8th June 1916, he served on the Western Front and
was Killed in Action at Willerval on
13 April 1917, aged 32. He is remembered with honour at the CWGC Bois-Carre
British Cemetery, Thelus in France. Grave Ref; II. E. 5. and on the St
Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Herts.
His Will requested that all
his effects to go to his mother Rhoda, at 12, Field Road, Oxhey, Watford,
Herts, England.
Additional Information
Also see ‘Additional Information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Wild www.collectionscanada.gc.ca
