Biography of 2nd Lieutenant Francis Nicholas Andrews
15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Died 11th October 1915

Mother

• Name: Mary Alice Baker
• DOB: 1858
• Place Of Birth: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
• Marriage: 25th April 1889 Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England

• None found

• No marriage for Francis has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

• Belfast News Letter Thursday 21st October 1915
  Second-Lieutenant F. N. Andrews
  Second – Lieutenant Francis Nicholas Andrews, 15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, who died in hospital in France on 11th October, was the only surviving child of Rev J. W. and Mrs Andrews, of Trysull Vicarage, Staffs and was 20 years old. He was educated at the King’s School, Worcester and was afterwards articled to solicitor. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and received his commission in December 1914 when he was transferred to the North Belfast Volunteers. He served at Ballykinlar Camp and made many friends on this side during his stay in Ulster.

• Larne Times Saturday 23rd October 1915
  DEAD
  Sec-Lieut Francis Nicholas Andrews, 15th Batt. Royal Irish Rifles (North Belfast Volunteers).

• BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
  Second-Lieutenant Francis Nicholas Andrews, 15th Royal Irish Rifles, who died in hospital in Frances on October 11, was the only surviving child of Rev J. W. and Mrs Andrews, Trysull Vicarage, Wolverhampton and a nephew of Mr S. K. Andrews, Bourne, Lincolnshire and was 20 years old. He was educated at King’s School, Worcester and was afterwards articled to a solicitor. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and received his commission in December 1914 being posted immediately to the Rifles which whom he served at Ballykinlar until his regiment left Ireland. He was one of the few officers in the battalion not belonging to Belfast, but during his stay in Ulster he made many friends. It is not known locally under what circumstances he met his death.

• Grantham Journal Saturday 23rd October 1915
  DEATH OF LIEUT ANDREWS. On Friday afternoon week, news reached Bourne that Lieut Francis N Andrews had died of wounds in France. The news contained in the telegram sent by the Rev J W Andrews. Deceased was the only male descendant of the second generation of the family of the late Mr S W Andrews Bourne. The news came as a great shock to the family as well as to the large circle of Bourne friends of the deceased, who it will be remembered, had entered upon a course of training with his uncle, Mr S. R. Andrews with a view to taking up the law as a profession and remaining in the practice which had so long been associated with the name of Mr S. W. Andrews.  Soon after the outbreak of the war Lieut Andrews joined the Public Schools Battalion. Subsequently he obtained a commission in the Royal Irish Rifles.  He was only drafted to France about a fortnight ago. During the time that Lieut Andrews was in Bourne, he became very popular, taking great interest in most of the social functions. He figured prominently as an “advocate” in a “mock Trial” that took place at the Institute.

•  Grantham Journal Saturday 6th November 1915
  IN MEMORIAM. On Tuesday evening, a memorial service for the late Lieut Francis N Andrews was held at the Abbey Church Bourne, conducted by the Vicar (the Rev H. Cotton Smith). It was attended by a number of the friends of the deceased and a touching address was given by the Vicar. Master of his own career, possessor of his own life, Lieut Francis Nicholas Andrews, he said, gave his life doing a memorable thing, thinking more of deeds than of days, setting a higher value upon glory than life. That is the inheritance which men leave behind to console those for whom their bodies are a rampart of protection. Their death in the height of achievement is a proof that they have other ends than existence for existence’s sake.  To the family bereaved upon the fatal date, 11th October, everyone in that house of God (in many ways so closely connected with the name of Andrews) offered a respectful sympathy in the hour of sacred sorrow. God be their help in this time of tragic trouble. To his great keeping we commit the soul of their soldier son of whom it may be said, as it is written in Latin upon a Lincolnshire monument, “He has passed away, but is not dead; he has not perished, but is gone before.” May he rest in peace. Amen.

•  The Graphic Saturday 1st January 1916
  THE ROLL OF HONOUR: British Officers who have fallen.
  2nd LIEUT F. N. ANDREWS
  15th Royal Irish Rifles. Died in hospital in Frances, October 11. Son of the Vicar of Trysull, near Wolverhampton.

•  Record Of Service Of Solicitors And Articled Clerks With His Majesty’s Forces 1914 -1919
  FRANCIS NICHOLAS ANDREWS
  Articled to S. R. Andrews, of Bourne, Lincs. Joined Sept 1914 as Private,  Public Schools Batt.
  Gazetted 2nd Lieut. 15th Batt. Royal Irish Rifles, Dec 10 1914. Serviced in France. Died Oct 11th 1915, at Villers Bocage (France) from sickness contracted during  War.

Military Records

Medals

• The British Medal
• The Victory Medal
• The 15 Star

Memorials

• UK:
• Bourne, Roll of Honour in Bourne Abbey Church
• Bourne War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
• In Memory of Lieutenant Francis Nicholas Andrews, 15th battalion, Royal Irish Rifles who died on 11 October 1915
• Son of Rev J W Andrews and Mrs Andrews of Trysull Vicarage, Wolverhampton
• Remembered with Honour, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimill
• VIII. E. 1.

© IWM (HU 112875)

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

• Died of wounds

• This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

• WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
• British Newspaper Archive.
• Fold 3
• Find My Past
• Genealogist
• Forces War Records
• British Army Service Numbers
• War Gratuity Calculator
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
• General Registry Office