Daniel Robert Francis

A Deck Hand with Steam Trawler Derwent (Boston), Daniel died on 26th of January 1920 at the age of 24. 

Daniel was born at Lowestoft in 1895, a son of Daniel and Margaret (Maggie) Francis. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 4 October 1895 and his family lived at 29 Jacob’s Street, which would be Daniel’s home for the rest of his life. In 1911 Daniel worked as a labourer at the fish yard. 

Daniel was working as a fisherman when he volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft on 10 November 1914. He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery, service number 50274. He was posted to No 4 Depot and on 24 December 1914 joined 21 Company. Daniel was transferred to the Highland Light Infantry, on 22 June 1915, service number 21444, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, in France, on 2 October 1915.

On 1 August 1916 Daniel was wounded by shrapnel in his right knee and was admitted to No 21 Casualty Clearing Station. On 2 August he was transferred to No 2 Stationary Hospital at Abbeville, and, on 8 August, he was transferred to England. He was posted to the strength of the Depot on 9 August 1916. Daniel was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, and a medical board found that he could not walk without crutches and concluded that, for the time being, he would not be able to work due to his injury. Daniel was discharged, no longer physically fit for war service, on 20 February 1917. He was awarded the Silver War Badge. 

On 1 February 1919 Daniel married Ethel May Beckett. Daniel was a fisherman, living at 29 Jacob’s Street, and Ethel lived at 15 Gun Lane. Later Ethel lived at 29 Jacob’s Street. 

In 1920 Daniel worked on the Grimsby registered trawler Derwent, GY 525. The trawler was reported missing on 26 January 1920 and is thought to have struck a mine. The vessel was lost with all ten crew. 

Daniel's brother-in-law, Thomas Bayes, was also lost with the Derwent.