James ‘Jim’ Francom was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on the 16th May 1896, the third eldest of eight children of James and Emma Francom (née Beach). He was 5’ 3” in height and had a good physique. By 1911, the family home was at 92, Tweed Street, West Derby, Liverpool, and James Francom senior, who was a bookbinder, owned the property, which was quite uncommon for the latter years of the nineteenth century! The other children in order of age were Florence, Gladys, Arthur, Emma, twins William and Ada and John.
Having trained as a baker, James Francom junior engaged as Extra Second Baker in the Stewards' Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool on the 12th April 1915 and reported for duty at 7. a.m. five days later, in time for the liner’s fateful last voyage out of the River Mersey and across the Atlantic Ocean to New York. In his capacity as Extra Second Baker, he was paid a monthly rate of pay of £6-0s.-0d. It was not the first time that he had served on the Lusitania.
Having arrived safely in the United States, he was on board in the same capacity in the
ship’s bakery on the afternoon of the 1st May, when the steamer left the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York City and set out for what would be her last voyage ever.
Six days later, on the afternoon of the 7th May, the Cunarder was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, within sight of The Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland and only fourteen hours at the most, from the safety of her home port.
James Francom survived the sinking, however, and having been rescued from the sea he was landed at Queenstown from where he eventually made it back to his West Derby home. Family lore records that on his return home, his arms were still rubbed raw and scuffed as he had only survived by floating with one of the ship’s circular cork and canvas life belts around him.
Once home, he went to the Cunard main office in Water Street, Liverpool, where he was officially discharged from the Lusitania’s last voyage and paid the wages owing to him in respect of it. This amounted to £5-16s.-4d. (£5.82p.) and covered his service from the 17th April until the 8th May 1915, 24 hours after the liner had foundered.
Following this, he decided to join the British Army - perhaps as a result of his experiences on board the Lusitania, and on the 9th September 1915, he joined a company of The West Lancashire Army Service Corps - part of the Territorial Force in the 57th (West Lancashire) Division.
Following 17 months home service, he served overseas, including on the Western Front, from the 19th February 1917 until the end of August 1918 as T4/253529 Driver J. Francom of the 480th Company of the Army Service Corps, (Horse Transport). His job was to look after and drive horses and mules and once, on a return home on leave with mud still caked on his uniform, he had to be scrubbed from head to toe in a zinc bath with carbolic soap to remove the lice with which he had become infested!
Upon his discharge from the Colours on the 25th February 1919, it was stated that he was a very good horseman and groom.
After the war, in late 1919, he married Annie Brierley in Liverpool and they had one son, whom they named Harold, born in 1925. James Francom, had by then, become a confectioner, living at 36, Alford Street, Edge Lane, Liverpool, but after this, the family crossed the River Mersey to Wallasey in Cheshire, where James re-commenced his career as a baker, living at 92, Liscard Road. In 1940, however, he was working at local shipbuilders Cammel, Laird and Company Limited at its Birkenhead, shipyard, as an engineer. At that stage, he lived at 134, Gorsey Lane, Wallasey.
He died at 42. Brimstage Road, Bebington, Cheshire, on the 2nd March 1963, aged 66 years. His home address at that time was 3. Oakbank Street, Wallasey, Cheshire. He was survived by his wife, Annie, to whom administration of his will was granted on the 13th March. James Francom left an estate of £784-15s.-0d. (£784.75p).
His younger brother Arthur followed his example by enlisting in the British Army during the Great War, but unfortunately, on the 10th April 1918, he was killed in action in northern France whilst serving as 37627 Private A. Francom with the 1st/7th Battalion of The King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).
Cunard records erroneously show James Francom’s name to be James Francon, but this was probably a transcribing error made
Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, 1939 Register, National School Admission Registers & Log Books 1870 – 1914, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, UK British Army World War I Service Records 1914 – 1920, Probate Records, PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Bob Francom, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 25th November 2023.