Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born April 1891 in Glenlyon, Victoria

Father   Joseph Charles Eacott
            (b. 17/01/1853 in Spring Creek, Tasmania - d. 1933 in Longwarry, VIC); and
Mother  Georgina Eacott (nee Adams)
            (b. 1859 Hepburn, Victoria - d. 31/01/1946 in Drouin, VIC)
Francis lived with his parents at Longwarry, Victoria on enlisting.

Siblings:
Charles Joseph George Eacott  (b. 1886 in Glenlyon, VIC - d. 1949 in Warragul, VIC)
Violet May (Eacott) Armstrong  (b. 1887 in Glenlyon, VIC - d. 1977 in Cheltenham, VIC)
     m. 1907 - William Finlay Armstrong
Georgina Rose (Eacott) McDonald  (b. 1891 in Glenlyon, VIC - d. ___)
     m. 1913 - James McDonald
William James Eacott  (b. 1893 in Glenlyon, VIC - d. 1921 in Warragul, VIC)
Samuel Henry Eacott  (b. 1895 in Glenlyon, VIC - d. 1974 in Warragul, VIC)
      m. 1929 Leila Victoria Eacott (nee Boulton) Eacott
Thomas Edward Eacott  (b. 1896 in Glenlyon, VIC - d. 1970 Parkville, VIC)
      m. 1928 - Ethel Eacott (nee Norton) Eacott
Mary Ann Lottie Elizabeth Eacott  (b. 1902 in Longwarry, VIC - d. 1903 1903 in Longwarry, VIC)

Relatives
Uncle (father's side) William James Eacott
           (b. 30/07/1855 Galmorgan, Tasmania - d. 17/07/1911); and
Aunt  Mary Ellen Eacott (nee Towers)
        (b. 1866 Carlton, VIC - d. 19/03/1932 Longwarry, VIC)
        (both buried in Drouin West Cemetery, Longwarry, VIC)
Cousins:
Clara Blanch Maud (Eacott) Tibbits   b. 1885 Glenlyon, VIC - d.08/06/1943 Perth, WA
    m.  1905 - John Markham Tibbits
    lived at 30 McLaron Street, Boulder City, Western Australia
Anne Eacott   b. 1886 Glenlyon, VIC - d. 1887 in Daylesford, VIC
William Eacott  b. 1889 in Glenlyon, VIC - d. 30/07/1937
                      buried in Drouin West Cemetery
Joseph Henry Eacott  b. 1891 Daylesford, VIC - d. 1963 Warragul, VIC
Charles Arthur Eacott  b. 1893 Daylesford, VIC - d. 20/09/1917 Belgium
Percy Edward Eacott  b. 1895 in Longwarry, VIC - d. 1948 in Bunyip, VIC
Bridget Eacott  b.1900 in Longwarry, VIC - d. 26 Oct 1978 at Longwarry, VIC

Next-of-kin in service:
Brother
22511  Driver Samuel Henry Eacott - 8th Field Artillery Brigade
            Born 1895 in Glenlyon, Victoria
            11/01/1916   enlisted in Melbourne, VIC
            20/05/1916   embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A7 Medic
                               as a Driver with 23rd Howitzer Brigade, 1st reinforcements
            last rank:      Driver with 8th Field Artillery Brigade
            11/05/1919   returned to Australia onboard HT Borda
            27/06/1919   disembarked into Australia
            11/08/1919   discharged from service
            1929            MARRIED   Leila Victoria Eacott (nee Boulton)
            1974            Samuel passed away in Warragul, Victoria

Cousins
20240 Gunner Joseph Henry Eacott - 8th Field Artillery Brigade (b. 1891)         
           28/12/1915    enlisted in Melbourne, VIC
           20/05/1916    embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A7 Medic
                                as a Gunner with 8th Field Artillery Brigade,
                                Brigade Ammunition Column
           18/07/1916    disembarked into Plymouth, England
           11/05/1919    returned to Australia onboard HT Zealandia, ex England
           28/06/1919    disembarked into Australia
           04/09/1919    discharged from service
           1923              MARRIED:  Elizabeth (Hanna) Eacott
           1963              Joseph passed away in Warragul, Victoria

Private 6987 Charles Arthur Eacott - 7th Infantry Battalion (b. July 1893)
           20/10/1916     enlisted at Warragul, Victoria
           23/11/1916     embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A20 Hororata
                                as a Private with 7th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcement
           29/01/1917     disembarked into Plymouth, England
           20/09/1917      hit by a shell and knocked unconscious - killed in action
                                 at Black Watch Corner, Polygon Wood, Belgium
           Buried in:         the side of the trench of where he was killed
                                 (noted by his comrades in his battalion)
           Buried alongside Pte 1945 William Gilbert Grace and
                                    Pte 6509 Henry Russell Huntsman - all killed together

           20/9/2015        A rededication service was held at the
                                  Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Belgium
                                  later his body was exhumed and reburied in:
                                  Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium
                                  Joint grave Plot I, Row D, Graves 19-20
                                  (with Private 6509 Henry Russell Huntsman)
                                  Pte 1945 William Gilbert Grace is buried alongside the joint grave
                                  at Plot I, Row D, Grave 18
           His name is commemorated on:-
                 - Panel 7 at The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium; and
                 - Panel 49 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT

Francis was described on enlisting as 26 years of age; single; 6' 0.5" tall; 11 stone 7 lbs;
sallow complexion; blue eyes; light brown hair; Church of England

15/10/1915    enlisted in Melbourne, VIC

28/01/1916    appointed to 15/4 reinforcements, Light Horse - Seymour Camp

09/03/1916    embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A13 Katuna
                     as a Private with with 1st Battalion

18/04/1916    taken on strength 1st Light Horse Training Regiment, Tel-el-Kebir

28/05/1916    embarked overseas onboard HT corsican, ex Alexandria - for Gallipoli, ANZAC

05/09/1916    marched in from 4th Light Horse to 1st Training Battalion, England

08/10/1916    proceeded overseas, ex 1st Training Battalion, ex England
09/10/1916    reported to 1st Australian Division Base, Etaples, France
29/10/1916    proceeded to join unit

03/11/1916    taken on strength of 1st Infantry Battalion
                    from 12th Light Horse Regiment, France

04/01/1917    Hit by a shell and killed instantly - received in action - Gueudecourt, France
                     noted as buried in the field.

No known grave

His name is commemorated on:
                 - Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
                 - Panel 28 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Medals:       British War medal (3494_), Victory medal (3464),
                  Memorial Plaque and Scroll (300451)

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  20/01/2017.  Lest we forget.