Francis Beedom Ayers

An Ordinary Seaman with H.M.S. Harvester, Francis died on 1st of June 1940 at the age of 18. 

Francis was born at Mells, Somerset, on 2 March 1922, a son of William Henry and Marguerite Mary Ayers. In 1921 his family had lived at 4 Vobslei Road, Mells, Frome, Somerset. By 1929 they were living at Corton and in 1939 their address was 1 Fair View, Corton. In 1939 Francis worked as an apprentice carpenter. 

Francis served on the destroyer H.M.S. Harvester. In May 1940 the Harvester was involved in the Dunkirk evacuations. On 27 May the ship returned 272 men to Dover during the daytime. During the night of 30/31 May the Harvester returned to Dunkirk and rescued 1,341 men in two trips. On 1 June the ship rescued another 576 men. Francis died at the Union Road Hospital, Dover, from an accidental rifle wound.  

His brother William Henry Beedom Ayers served with the Royal Engineers and died in 1944.