Duffy, Francis Lewis

Francis (Frank) was born at St Pancras, London the fourth son of James and Susanna (nee Morrison) on 14 October 1887.

Frank enlisted with the Royal Navy, Royal Marine Light Infantry on 27 January 1903, Service Number 13780.  He lied about his age when enlisting saying his birth date was 14 October 1885 when in fact it was 1887.  His marriage certificate in 1915 shows him stationed on the HMS Falmouth which took part in the Battle of Jutland and was torpedoed in October 1916 and sank in the Humber Estuary eight hours later.  It is not known if Francis was on board.  He survived the War.

Frank was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Frank married Mabel Skerman in Ashwell on 30 March 1915.  They had one son, Frank Alfred Reginald, born on 12 May 1920.

In the late 1920s early 1930s he lived with his wife and son at The Old Forge, 36 Kingsland Way and the 1939 census shows him living at 17 Council Cottages, Station Rd, Ashwell, a builder’s labourer.

Frank died at Ashwell in 4^th quarter 1960 and is buried in the St Mary’s Church Cemetery, Ashwell.