Corporal

Francis William Desmond

Conflict: 
WW1
References:
  • CWGC
  • Archives New Zealand
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

“The lost memorials to three New Zealand soldiers who died in World War I have been unearthed from the bottom of a box in the City Archives [Wellington City Council] - almost a century after they were issued.

Three sets of medals, memorial plaques, scrolls, and letters from King George V, have been discovered after they never reached the families of the dead soldiers. Two illuminated certificates of service - an illustrated certificate sent to the families of Kiwi servicemen - were also found.

The trove was uncovered at the bottom of a box of Union Steam Ship Company records, marked as World War I accounts and records.
It appeared the army had attempted to send the honours to the three soldiers' families … After being unable to find anyone, the honours were passed on to the men's employer, the Union Steam Ship Company, which agreed to "hold them in trust".

FRANCIS DESMOND
“Born in Ireland in 1886, he enlisted while working as a seaman for the Union Steam Ship Company. He served in the Otago Regiment in Egypt and France and was killed in action in June 1917. He had nominated his fiancee, May Booth, as his next of kin. Her address was given as c/o Post Office, Ophir, Central Otago. His legal next of kin was "unknown". He received a plaque and scroll, the English War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 Star. He also received an illuminated certificate of service.”

[The Dominion Post, 4 April 2015]

Public Contributions:

There are no public contributions written for this casualty

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
8/2896
Name:
Francis William Desmond
Rank: 
Corporal
Date of Birth:
Not known
Next of Kin: 
Miss Mary Booth (fiancee), Post-office, Ophir, Central Otago, New Zealand
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Enlistment Address: 
26 Cargill Street, Dunedin, New Zealand
Armed Force: 
Army
Unit:
NZEF, Otago Regiment, 51 Battalion

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Killed in action
Date of Death:
13 June 1917
Day of Death:
Wednesday
Age at Death: 
28
Conflict: 
WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:
7th Reinforcements
Embarkation Place:
Wellington, New Zealand
Embarkment Date:
09 October 1915
Transport:

HMNZT 32
HMNZT 33
HMNZT 34
Vessel:
Aparima or Navua or Warrimoo
Destination:
Suez, Egypt

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery Location: 
Belgium
Francis William Desmond
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