Sidney Goodall Francis

Born on 24 December 1874, Sidney Goodall Francis was educated at Bedford School. He received his first commission as a second lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1895, served during the Second Boer War, between 1899 and 1902, and received the Distinguished Service Order in 1900.^[1][2] He was promoted to the rank of captain in August 1904, ^[3] (although the date of his promotion was later antedated to April 1904^[4]) serving on the North West Frontier and during the Mohmand Expedition of 1908.

He served during the First World War, was promoted to the rank of major in September 1915,^[5] and was appointed as a GSO3 in October,^[6] to the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel in February 1916, when he took command of a battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles (later the Royal Ulster Rifles),^[7] and to the temporary rank of brigadier general in 1917. He received a second Distinguished Service Order in 1918.^[8]

He was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, in 1920.^[9]

Francis retired from the British Army on 3 June 1925 and was granted the honorary rank of brigadier general and promoted to lieutenant colonel at the same time, with seniority backdated to 8 December 1916.^[10]

He died in Sway, Hampshire, on 29 March 1955, at the age of 80.^[11]