Medals of Eric Edgar Francis, J.109371 Petty Officer R.N.

1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, War Medal 1939-45, RN LSGC, GVI 1st type (P.O. H.M.S. WARSPITE). GVF

Francis was born in 1908 and enlisted in the RN as a Boy Seaman in 1924. He received specialist training in torpedoes.

In February 1937 Francis was drafted to the battleship Warspite and served in her until June 1941. This included the second battle of Narvik, when she took part in sinking eight German destroyers; the Battle of Calabria, when she hit the Italian flagship at a range of thirteen miles, causing the Italians to break off the action; the Battle of Matapan, when Warspite and her two sisterships destroyed three heavy cruisers and two destroyers in a night action, without loss; and the Battle of Crete, when she was badly damaged in an air raid and had casualties of 43 killed and 69 wounded. She was the flagship of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham during the most desperate stages of the war in the Mediterranean. Warspite was awarded thirteen battle honours for World War II, more than any other ship. Francis was rated leading seaman in 1937, petty officer in 1940 and awarded his LSGC Medal in March 1941.

Francis qualified as a Torpedo Gunners Mate in May 1942 and was drafted to the destroyer Harvester. In March 1943 she escorted convoy HX228, bound from Halifax (Canada) to the UK. The convoy came under attack from a wolf-pack and several ships were sunk during the night. Harvester carried out a depth charge attack on U-444, and rammed the U-boat when she surfaced. The badly damaged U-boat limped away on the surface, but Harvester too was damaged – her propellor shafts were fractured and she could no longer steam. In this helpless condition she was observed by U-432 which torpedoed her. She went to the bottom with nearly all her crew, including Francis and some merchant sailors she had rescued. A handful of her survivors were picked up by the Free French corvette Aconit, which also destroyed U-432 and finished off U-444.