Francis, known to his family as Ernest, was born on 9th October 1894 in Melton. In 1911, he was living with his widowed father and sister at Valley Farm and working as a farm labourer. Ernest was conscripted into the services and joined the Army Service Corps with whom he served throughout the war.

Ernest married Ada Beeton in the Woodbridge district in 1921 and they had three sons. In 1939, Ernest and his family were living in Bury St Edmunds. He died in 1962.

For his war service, Ernest received the British War and Victory Medals.