119 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca FRANCIS, Cecil Menzie WWII Cecil was born on August 1, 1913, to Harry and Elizabeth (Close) Francis in Swan Lake, Manitoba. He was the twin brother to Lindsay. The family moved to Norgate, Manitoba on January 1, 1926 where they continued farming. Cecil enlisted in World War II and trained at Fort Osborne, Shilo, and Portage. He then went overseas with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. In December 1943, he served for some time in North Africa before proceeding to Italy. Lance Corporal Cecil Francis was discharged in December 1945. Ceicl married Sarah Yates on May 20, 1972 and for health reasons, they moved to Neepawa from McCreary in the summer of 1979. He received the following decorations: 1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and the War Medal 19391945. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion in McCreary, Manitoba. Cecil passed away on May 15, 2003 and was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Neepawa, Lot 9, Block 10, Range 23. FRANCIS, Lindsay Leroy WWII Lindsay was born in Swan Lake, Manitoba on August 1, 1913, to Harry and Elizabeth (Close) Francis. The family moved to Norgate, Manitoba in 1926 where they continued to farm. Lindsay enlisted in World War II on November 13, 1942 at the Fort Osborne Barracks in Winnipeg. He trained in Shilo and Portage and was sent overseas to England. He was hospitalized in England before he went to Italy with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He and members of his regiment were sent to guard a bridge near Florence. Germans had mined the bridge before leaving the region. Private Lindsay Francis was killed when one of the mines exploded. His twin brother, Cecil, also a member of the same regiment, was only a short distance from the area. He heard the explosion but was not aware that his brother had been killed until later. Lindsay was killed in action on August 6, 1944 and is commemorated at the Florence War Cemetery in Italy (Grave VI A 7). Lindsay received the 1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945 with Clasp. Francis Bay (64k/16), in the Seal River, was named after him in 1995. FRANCIS, Wheelock Cameron WWI Wheelock was born in Victoria, PEI on August 17, 1886, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Francis. He resided for some ten years in Neepawa and district. At one time, he was on the staff of John Kerr & Co. He enlisted in the Army in Neepawa with the 226th O.S. Battalion and went to France with the 43rd Battalion. Private Wheelock Francis was killed in the Battle of Passchendaele on October 26, 1917. He was previously reported missing and, for official purposes, was presumed to have died. He is buried at the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial in Belgium.
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