Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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18090   Lance Corporal Francis John Lennox
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 01/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 11th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 09/02/1893
Died: 01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 23
Summary      
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.
Lance Corporal Francis John Lennox
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.
Advert: A Lennox, Arcade, Cookstown
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.
Medal card
Francis John Lennox is pictured below with his two sisters.
Francis Lennox 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:
Newspaper Report
Frank Lennox, brother of Messrs Lennox, merchants, Cookstown, 11th Inniskillings, officially reported killed.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th July 1916:
Newspaper Report
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.
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.
Railway Street, Lisburn War Memorial
The CWGC record Lance Corporal Francis Lennox as the brother of Mr W G Lennox of 550 Rushton Road, Toronto, Ontario.
Read more
Relevant Cookstown Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 William Street Cookstown Central Lennox brothers had drapers store in William St 54.647975 -6.745931
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Lennox family Lists John as age 8 living at house 25 in Aughrim, Ballyronan, Londonderry
2 1911 Census lists Elizabeth Lennox Possible listing of Francis' sister, a nurse living at house 11.1 in Cushendall Road, Ballymena Town, Antrim
3 1911 Census lists Lennox family Does not list Francis as living with the family at house 28 in Aughrim, Ballyronan, Londonderry
4 1911 Census lists Lennox family Lists Francis John as age 16 living at house 13 in William Street Cookstown
5 Castledawson War Dead Details of Lance Corporal Francis John Lennox
6 Facebook - Castledawson Life Francis John Lennox is pictured with his two sisters.
7 Forum Discussion Relatives of Lance Corporal Francis John Lennox
8 Lisburn in the Great War Lists Lance Corporal Francis John Lennox
9 Magherafelt War Dead Also listed on Magherafelt War Dead
10 National Archives UK Medal card can be purchased here
11 Railway Street Presb. War Memorial James Lennox listed, believed to be Lance Corporal Francis Lennox
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023