Rivers Harrison Francis

Story:
Rivers Harrison Francis was born on 31st March 1883 in Motcombe, Dorset, the son of Edwin Francis and Harriet Fanny Francis (née Lambert).  He lived with his parents in The Street, Motcombe, during his childhood until moving to Andover, Hampshire, where he met and married Edith Lydia E. Rawlins on 19th December 1907.  They went on to have three children.  Rivers had previous military reserve service with the Dorsetshire Regiment and, when embodied, joined the 30th Distribution Battalion Training Reserves with his previous rank of Sergeant (Service No. TR/8/27351).   He was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 6th July 1918 (Service No. 45974).  He is known to have served for a time in Ireland. He was discharged on 29th November 1919.  Medal records cannot be found.  The 1921 Census shows he was living at @brightwell', Bestone Road, Burley, Hampshire, working as a Carpenter for the Forestry Commission. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 'Danebury', Fernhill Road, New Milton, Nr. Lymington, Hampshire.  He died on 3rd March 1969 in the Southampton Registry area.