Private James Francey
James Francey was born on 19 November 1895 at Ballee, Ballymena, County Antrim, the third of nine children of railway porter James Francey and his wife Sarah (née Murray). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Ballee with his parents and four of his seven surviving siblings, and working as a linen weaver. He later worked for building contractor John Carson.
Francey enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 2 and 7 September 1916 (No.2268). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France in late 1916 or the first half of 1917, where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st or 2nd North Irish Horse Regiments.
In August-September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Francey, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Francey was issued regimental number 41424.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
Francey was captured, unwounded, on 27 March 1918 at Erches, near Roye, when much of the 9th (NIH) Battalion was overwhelmed by the fast-moving German advance during the German spring offensive. He remained a prisoner until the end of the war, held at camps in Bohain, Giessen, Sagan and Heilsberg.
Following his repatriation in December 1918 or early January 1919, Francey returned to Ballymena and worked as a carpenter. On 27 October 1924 he married Sarah Manson, and the following month the couple emigrated to Australia, then to New Zealand.
At least one of Francey's brothers, Thomas, also served in the war, in the Canadian Army Service Corps.