Francis John Lennox was the son of William S and Margaret Lennox. Francis was born in February 1893 in Castledawson. The family had a farm. By 1911, Francis was living and working with two of his brothers at their drapery business in William Street, Cookstown. Francis Lennox moved to Lisburn and was an Orangeman in Lisburn Lodge 557 and a member of the local UVF battalion. From 1912 he had been in charge of the woolens and ready-made department in Messrs. Duncans in Lisburn. Lance Corporal Francis John Lennox was serving with the 11th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He was 23 years old.
The Thiepval Memorial will be found on the D73, next to the village of Thiepval, off the main Bapaume to Albert road (D929). Each year a major ceremony is held at the memorial on 1 July.
