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.
Further Information
Francis John Lennox was the son of William S and Margaret Lennox. William Lennox and Margaret Caulfield were married on 17th September 1875 in the district of Magherafelt.
Francis was born on 9th February 1893 in Castledawson, County Londonderry. He was one of twelve children, eleven surviving.
Known family: William Lennox, Margaret Lennox, Elizabeth Lennox (born 8th June 1876), Andrew Lennox (born 17th January 1878), Robert C Lennox (born 24th November 1879), Annie Lennox (born 21st February 1882), James Lennox (born 4th February 1884), William G Lennox (born 27th May 1886), Marshall Lennox (born 9th November 1888), Maria Lennox (born 20th December 1890), Francis John Lennox (born 9th February 1893), Herbert Lennox (born 23rd October 1896), Alfred Lennox (born 2nd November 1898).
The 1901 census lists John as 8 living at house 25 in Aughrim, near Castledawson, County Londonderry. The family had a farm.
The 1911 census lists Francis as living and working with two of his brothers at their drapery business in William Street, Cookstown. Francis was 18 years old.
The advert above, from 1916, was amongst many placed in the local newspaper by Lennox’s.
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. George Duncan & Co Ltd, wholesale drapers, 50 to 54 Market Square, Lisburn.
Francis Lennox enlisted in Lisburn. He probably embarked for France in October 1915.
Francis John Lennox is pictured below with his two sisters.
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.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th July 1916:
Frank Lennox, brother of Messrs Lennox, merchants, Cookstown, 11th Inniskillings, officially reported killed.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th July 1916:
LENNOX – Killed in action on 1st July. Lance Corporal Francis John Lennox, Royal Irish Rifles (Ulster Division), son of W S Lennox, Aughrim, Co Derry, and brother of Messrs Andrew and James Lennox, Cookstown.
Francis Lennox’s eldest sister, Elizabeth Lennox, is believed to have a matron at Waveney Hospital, Ballymena.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 12th March 1917: Ballymena Nurses Honoured
Matron E Lennox, Waveney Hospital, Ballymena, who has been mentioned for valuable services in connection with the war, is a daughter of the late Mr W J Lennox, of Aughrim, County Derry. Nurse Lennox trained in St George’s Hospital, London, and afterwards was engaged for some time as a sister in Bethnal Green Infirmary, from which she went to the Ballymena Infirmary some ten years ago.
Lance Corporal Francis Lennox has no known grave and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial.
Lance Corporal Francis Lennox is also commemorated on Lisburn War Memorial.
At a service in Railway Street Presbyterian Church in Lisburn on Sunday 18th April 1920, a Memorial Window was unveiled in memory of 21 men from Railway Street congregation who laid down their lives in the World War One. One of the men listed on the window was James Lennox, believed to be Lance Corporal Francis Lennox.
The CWGC record Lance Corporal Francis Lennox as the brother of Mr W G Lennox of 550 Rushton Road, Toronto, Ontario.
