Francis Lionel Weeks

Rifleman

Conflict:

WW1

Additional Information:

Son of Thomas and Annie Weeks, of Gisborne, New Zealand.

References:

CWGC

Archives New Zealand

BDM Online

Relatives Who Are Also Casualties:

Reginald Weeks, Brother, Died of wounds 27/08/1918

NZ WAR GRAVES

Public Contributions:

Submitted by: Michael Weeks

Relationship to casualty: My Grandfather's Brother / Great Uncle

Francis Lionel Weeks (Frank) was born in Gisborne New Zealand on the 4 March 1897. Frank’s Statistics on Enlistments. Height: 5ft 9ins. Weight: 11st. Chest: Minimum 34: Maximin 39. Eyes: Brown. Hai...r: Brown. Complexion: Fair. Religion: Church of England. Occupation: Station Hand / Civilian. Frank is in the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade 4th Battalion. After Frank had done his initial training in Trentham and Featherston camps he boarded one of three ships in the convoy that left Wellington on the 5th of February 1916 that was headed for Egypt. In the convoy of three ships were the 3rd & 4th Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Māori Contingent and #2 Field Ambulance. Combined total of 2,228 troops. HMNZT: ULIMAROA # 42 HMNZT: MOKOIA # 42 HMNZT: NAVUA # 44 Francis was killed on the 23rd of November 1916 The following was the inquiry into the accident. 23/161 Rfn F Hammer A Company 1st Battalion 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery, States I was in the front line about trench 38. Bay 28 right battalion sector, 3rd Brigade on 23rd November at about 2.30pm. I was in charge of a gun detachment and there were with me 26/285 Rfn F L Weeks and 25/374 Rfn E Wright of the detachment. At about 3pm after firing several rounds, I was observing and Weeks and Wright were firing when an explosion occurred. I was three or four yards away at the time with a wall of sandbags between myself and the gun. There were three or four Infantry men looking in the doorway of the gun position watching the firing at the time the explosion occurred. I don't know the cause of the explosion. The gun position was enclosed by four splinter proof walls of sandbags with a door at the left-hand back corner. I am an experienced gunner and we always examine the shells before firing the shell. the shells we fired this afternoon were examined about an hour before the firing took place, Weeks and Wright were both experienced gunners. : 23/25 J L McAlister Lieut C Company 1st Battalion N.Z.R.B. Seconded for duty with Light Trench Mortar Battery Stations, I amin charge of the ten guns firing in the right battalion of the 3rd Brigade sector on the afternoon of the 23rd of November, I took Corpl Frost who is in charge of the gun team in which the accident occurred, to help me in registration work leaving Rifle Hammer to take charge of the gun during the afternoon shoot. At about 2.45pm I was called to the front line to see the result of a premature explosion which had been reported to me. The emplacement where the accident occurred was in bay 28 Trench 38 and consisted of 3 sandbag walls extended from a solid traverse with a opening at the left side near the rear and with a light partly completed roof. The other two members of the team Rifleman Weeks and Rifleman Wright who were both dead in the gun emplacement. The other casualties were all 3rd battalion men L/C Porter killed and Riflemen McKendry, Clayson, and Montgomery wounded. On examining the gun I found the barrel torn in two at a place which would indicate that the shell exploded immediately at the bottom of the barrel. The gun team were all experienced men and the usual examination of the shells was made before the shells were used. No trace of shell or cartridge were found. 3rd Witness Called: 24/424 Corpl E B Frost B Company 2nd Battalion, attached 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery states. I am usually in charge of the gun team which was using the gun where the accident occurred. The gun team is a thoroughly capable one and the gun was examined by me before firing and found to be in good order. I saw every one of the shells used by the detachment examined before firing, I was not present during the firing on the afternoon. The Board having considered the evidence are of the opinion that the following: Casualties, Killed 1 No 26 / 285 Rfn Francis Lionel Weeks 2 No 25 / 374 Rfn Ernest Wright 3 No 25 / 1009 L/Cpl John Trask Porter Wounded 1 No 15946 Rfn Archibald William McKendry 2 No 25 / 1119 Rfn James William Clayson 3 No 25 / 508 Rfn Oscar Robert Montgomery Were caused by a premature explosion of a Stokes shell (3inch) and that no blame is attachable to any member of the 3rd N.Z.L.T. Battery. Bishop, Capt. O/C.B.Coy 2/Battalion 3rd N.Z.R.B. Morgan, Capt.O/C 1 N.Z.L.T.M.B. Tennent, 2nd / Lt “A” Coy 2nd / Battalion 3rd N.Z.R.B. Francis Lionel Weeks and the two others soldiers (Ernest Wright and John Trask Porter) that were killed that day in the trench are buried at RUE-DAVID MILITARY CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX Fleurbaix is a village about 5 kilometres south-west of Armentieres. Rue-David Military Cemetery lies to the south- east of the village. Read More

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Casualty

Service Number:

26/285

Name:

Francis Lionel Weeks

Rank:

Rifleman

Date of Birth:

04 March 1897

Place of Birth:

Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand

Next of Kin:

Mrs T. Weeks (mother), 309 Jervois Road, Hastings

Religion:

Church of England

Date of Enlistment:

10 October 1915

Locality on Enlistment:

Hexton

Place of Enlistment:

Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand

Marital Status:

Single

Occupation on Enlistment:

Stationhand

Employer:

G Shierlaw, Awapuni

Unit:

3 New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade, 4 Battalion

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Date of Death:

23 November 1916

Day of Death:

Thursday

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:

New Zealand Rifle Brigade

Embarkation Place:

Wellington, New Zealand

Embarkment Date:

05 February 1916

Transport:

HMNZT 42
HMNZT 43
HMNZT 44

Vessel:

Ulimaroa or Mokoia or Navua

Destination:

Suez, Egypt

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

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix

Cemetery Reference:

I. F. 29.

Cemetery Location:

France