1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
04/12/1888
Died:
03/08/1915 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
26
Summary
Francis Eccles was the son of Francis and Mary Eccles. He was born on 4th December 1888 in the Dungannon area. The family lived with the family in Derraghadoan, Donaghmore. His father was a farm labourer. Francis Eccles enlisted in Cookstown about 1909. Private Francis Eccles was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Gallipoli where he was wounded in action. Private Eccles died of his wounds in hospital in Malta on 3rd August 1915. The CWGC record Private F Eccles as the son of Francis and Mary A Eccles of Carland, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
Further Information
Francis Eccles was the son of Francis and Mary Eccles. Francis Eccles married Mary O’Donnell on 17th November 1884 in the district of Dungannon.
Francis Eccles was born on 4th December 1888 in the Dungannon district, probably around the Carland/Donaghmore area.
Known family: Francis Eccles, Mary Eccles, Hugh Eccles (born 18th December 1886), Margaret Eccles (born 27th February 1887, died 7th October 1890, age 3), Francis Eccles (born 4th December 1888), James Eccles (born 19th October 1890), Unnamed male son (born 2nd December 1892, died 2nd December 1892), Margaret Eccles (born 24th November 1893, died 30th January 1900, age 6), Rose Eccles (born 26th September 1896), John Eccles (born 7th April 1898), Joseph Eccles (born 20th December 1899).
The 1901 census records Francis as 9 years old, living with the family in Derraghadoan, Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Francis senior was an agricultural labourer. For some reason, his mother was not living with the family. However, his aunt Bridget was.
Francis Eccles enlisted in Cookstown about 1909.
By 1911, the family had been broken up. Francis is no longer listed as living with the family.
Private Eccles is buried in Addolorata Cemetery, Malta.
Private Francis Eccles was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Gallipoli where he was wounded in action.
Private Eccles died of his wounds in hospital in Malta on 3rd August 1915.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 25th September 1915: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Mr F Eccles, of Carland, Dungannon, has received official intimation that his son, Private Frank Eccles of the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has died of wounds received at the Dardanelles last month. The deceased soldier, who was 26 years of age, had six years’ service in the battalion.
Francis named his sister Rose Eccles as his the beneficiary of his will.
Last Will and Testament of Private Francis Eccles dated 23rd April 1913:
WILL: In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my sister Rose Eccles, c/o Mrs Arthur Donnelly, Carland, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland. Francis Eccles Private No 9949. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Date 23 April 1913.
Private Francis Eccles is commemorated on Dungannon War Memorial.
The CWGC record Private F Eccles as the son of Francis and Mary A Eccles of Carland, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
