Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Samuel Francey #9544 11th Field Company Engineers

Samuel Francey was one of four brothers who enlisted in the Great War. At the time of his enlistment on 10th January 1916, he was 22 years old and employed as a boilermaker. Samuel gave his address as “LaLoma” Bennets Road, Coorparoo. Samuel enrolled at Coorparoo State School in 1897. His name also appears on the Roll of Honour of the Coorparoo Methodist Church where he was a member of the congregation.
He was drafted into the Field Engineers, perhaps on the basis of his engineering background, and spent pre-embarkation training in Adelaide before departing Australia on 31st May 1916. Samuel’s unit was attached to the third division which was training under Monash in England.

Field Engineers were employed in heavy construction work including railway construction, bridge construction and repair as well as constructing barracks and the many and varied building requirements of an army in the field. The 11th FEB unit diary records the unit being trained in the construction of pontoon bridges prior to the deployment to the Western Front.

Once the Engineers Battalion reached the continent, they were deployed along with the 3rd Division to the front in the Ypres salient in preparation for the planned advance in that sector which Haig; the British Supreme Commander, hoped would open the way to the Belgian ports and thus win the war. The opening of this offensive was to be a set piece battle against the Messines Ridge on June 7th 1917. The plan called for 19 mines to be exploded under the German lines after an artillery bombardment requiring 3 and a half million shells; followed by an infantry advance of some 6000 yards. The attack was a success, due primarily to the devastating effect of the mines which completely demoralised the German defenders.

Once the new front line was established, sappers from engineer and pioneer units attempted to consolidate the newly won ground by constructing robust defences. It was probably whilst engaged in this work that Samuel Francey was killed. There are no records of Red Cross inquiries into his death but the Unit diary for 6th July 1917, whilst not mentioning him by name, does record that the unit suffered a number of other ranks casualties while constructing trench works. In all likelihood, Samuel was killed by artillery fire. Samuel was buried at Kandahar Farm Cemetery, just west of the village of Messines. An internet search reveals recent photographs of his grave.
A studio portrait of Samuel Francey is held in the AWM collection with the inscription “Uncle Samuel, Killed at Messines, aged 23.” There is also a studio portrait of three of the four brothers in uniform.


Samuel Francey was one of four brothers who enlisted in the First World War from this Coorparoo family. Henry Thomas Francey and William Power Francey enlisted together with the 25th Battalion. Henry whilst attached to the 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery (31st Battalion) was awarded the Military Medal (MM) at Polygon Wood. A fourth brother, George Francey also enlisted with the Field Company Engineers. George, Henry and William Francey all survived the war and returned to Australia in 1919.