Ernest Leyton Francis
Private 513175
London Scottish

Division 27

Ernest Leyton Francis was the second son of Mr and Mrs Earnest Francis of Fir Croft, Southcote Rd. Reading.  He was a chartered accountant and had enlisted under Lord Derby’s scheme in November 1915 joining up in February 1916. 

E.L. Francis served abroad from June 1916 –  five months in France, seven months in Macedonia and six months in Palestine until  May 1918.  Whilst in Palestine he was in the fighting at Beersheba, and was with the first troops to enter Jerusalem.   Wounded at
Es Salt, on the furthest side of the River Jordon, on May 1st 1918, he was taken to Egypt, where he remained in hospital for a time.  He was evacuated to England returning on October 18th 1918 and admitted to the  Napsbury War Hospital.  Greatly enfeebled by the hardships he had previously  undergone, he fell an easy victim to the prevailing influenza epidemic and later died of pneumonia. 

Arrangements were made for his remains to be brought home for interment in Reading Cemetery in the family grave.  Brief details are to be found in the CWGC register but this investigation has found that the details as to the location of the grave are incorrect.  He is buried in his family grave umber 11315 in Division 27 not grave number 16515 Division 80. Newspaper reports of the time comment that he was “deeply mourned by all his friends, by whom he was highly respected and esteemed for his high principles and Christian character”.  E. L. Francis was interred 14th Nov. 1918, he was 24.