Francis James John Travers (1894-1918)

Biographical Text

No.2774  Francis James John Travers

Francis James John Travers was born in 1893, in Sydney, New South Wales to James and Katherine Travers. He was the eldest son and had six brothers:

• Harold
• Vincent
• Louis
• Desmond
• William and
• Basil

and three sisters:

• Gladys,
• Eileen and
• Olive.

He was attending to Ridley College in Parkville as a student in 1914 (this was noted in Electoral Rolls in 1914).

War Service
Francis enlisted into the Army at Melbourne, Victoria on 5 March 1916. He was aged 22 years and 5 months and he was 5 feet and 7 and three quarter inches tall. Francis weighed 138 pounds and had a chest measurement of thirty three to thirty five inches. His complexion was listed as fresh, with blue eyes and brown hair. All of this was recorded at the time of his enlistment.
 
He disembarked in Marseilles 29 June 1916. On the 4 August 1916, Francis was taken on strength by the 29th Battalion in France. He was with them throughout his service as a Private. Francis was in Le Havre France on the 9 August 1918 when he was killed in action, aged 24 years and 11 months.
He was buried at the Heath Cemetery Harbonnieres (Plot I, Row A, Grave No. 18),

His next of kin, his father, Mr James Travers was living in Werribee, Victoria when he was notified.

A small notice was printed in the local press advising of his death: 
Death on Active Service.
Travers – Reported killed in action on the 9th of August (somewhere in France) after 2 years and 7 months. Pte.Francis J.Travers, 29th Battalion, the beloved eldest son of James and Kate Travers, and the loving brother of the late Harold, Gladys, Vincent, Louis, Eileen, Desmond, Olive, William, and Basil. Aged 24 years 11 months. Our brave boy, one of the best. When he wrote his last fond letter, He was sure of victory, He said when the war is over, mother dear, I will then come back to thee, but God postponed our meeting.
-    Inserted by his loving father and mother, brothers and sisters, Werribee.
Werribee Shire Banner, 5 September 1918, p.2.

Medals and Entitlements:

• British War Medal - 25 November 1921
• Victory Medal - 22 February 1923
• Memorial Plaque - 17 November 1922
• Memorial Scroll - 14 December 1921
• Where The Australians Rest - 2 December 1921

A photograph of Francis James John Travers also appeared on Roll of Honor - Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works circa 1920 - World War I Roll of Honour depicting or commemorating 29 'Volunteers from the Board's Service who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918'. It was 'Presented by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Workd Employes [sic] Association'. Printed by the Survey Branch, MMBW.

Bibliography

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/560333/TRAVERS,%20FRANCIS%20JAMES%20JOHN

http://search.ancestry.com.au/

Trove:-

Harvard/Australian citation

1918 'Advertising.', Werribee Shire Banner (Vic. : 1911 - 1952), 5 September, p. 2, viewed 7 May, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74828087