Personal Details

Born: Francis was born 17 November 1894 in Whitchurch, Shropshire and baptised on 22 December the same year in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Whitchurch.

Family: He was the younger of two children born to Francis Taylor, a jeweller and watchmaker, and his wife Elizabeth Hemmingsley. Shipping records to South Africa identify a wife, Vera Annie, and child, Frank Thursfield; his Rhodesian death certificate identified that he had two children.

Residence: In 1901 he was living in Claypit Street; by 1911 the family had moved to Hill Crest, Chester Road, Whitchurch. This is the address on his military records and the 1925 shipping record to South Africa. He was living Goromonzi, Rhodesia at the time of his death.

Employment: He identified his occupation as clerk when he enlisted; the shipping record identifies him as a civil servant.

Died: 19 September 1958 in Goromonzi, Rhodesia and buried in Salisbury cemetery.

Military Details

Regiment: King’s Liverpool Regiment

Rank: Private

Service Number: 33241

Date of Enlistment: 24 November 1915

Date of Discharge: 11 September 1916

Reason for Discharge: No longer physically fit for war service

Other Information: He contracted malaria in December 1913 in Mashonaland, South Africa prior to enlisting and this was the cause of his discharge.