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Eric Francis

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Eric Francis

Birth	:	17 Jun 1894 Coorparoo, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia
Death	:	25 Aug 1983 Spring Hill, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia
Burial	:	Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, Holland Park West, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate	:	-27.5258170, 153.0777450
Plot	:	Columbarium 11 Section: Section 2
Description	:	Australian Rugby Union Wallaby #140 UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, QUEENSLAND AND AUSTRALIA TESTS: 2 caps. 1914 NZ , NZ. QUEENSLAND GAMES: SCHOOL: Ipswich Grammar School Born on the 17 June 1894 at Coorparoo, the son of John Vigers Francis, a Butcher and Ice manufacturer with several outlets in the city of Ipswich. The University of Queensland Club's first Australian player emerged just three years after its formation in 1911. Eric had two brothers Trevor and Stan were also noted sportsman at University. All three played football for their College (King’s) and the Club. Eric and Stan played in the University First XI Cricket team and Trevor was... Read More	Australian Rugby Union Wallaby #140 UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, QUEENSLAND AND AUSTRALIA TESTS: 2 caps. 1914 NZ , NZ. QUEENSLAND GAMES: SCHOOL: Ipswich Grammar School Born on the 17 June 1894 at Coorparoo, the son of John Vigers Francis, a Butcher and Ice manufacturer with several outlets in the city of Ipswich. The University of Queensland Club's first Australian player emerged just three years after its formation in 1911. Eric had two brothers Trevor and Stan were also noted sportsman at University. All three played football for their College (King’s) and the Club. Eric and Stan played in the University First XI Cricket team and Trevor was a noted sprinter gaining a Blue for Athletics in 1912. Older brother, Engineering student, Trevor was the amateur champion for Queensland in the 440 yards and ran second in the Australasian mile in the first year after school. Stan played Interstate Rugby and received a Football Blue in 1914. However, it was Eric who had the more distinguished career at a footballer. Eric was honoured with Full Blues for Rugby in 1914 and 1919 when more than one 'Blue' could be awarded. In addition, he also received a Full Blue for Cricket in 1921. As a cricketer, he played for Ipswich in 1913 and played against a visiting English Cricket team as a schoolboy and was once a twelfth man for the Queensland Cricket team. Educated at one of Queensland finest and oldest schools, Ipswich Grammar (The School was founded in 1863, nine years before the formation of the Queensland Rugby Union), he attended from 1908-1913 and was a member of the School's First XV and the First IV in tennis player at school. In his final year at Ipswich Grammar, he was the school's Senior Prefect. Upon completion of his studies at Ipswich, he furthered his academic and sporting abilities when he attended the newly founded University of Queensland where he played football in the First Grade side. Francis pressed for Queensland selection playing for the 1914 Brisbane team in an outstanding performance against New South Wales although in a beaten team (NSW 21-12) The Queensland selectors noticed the abilities of Eric along with his brother Stan selected to represent Queensland in 1914 against New South Wales and the mighty All Blacks in the games played at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Eric played at fullback and his brother Stan played on the wing. The team was beaten by New Zealand 25-5 and 19-0 in the games played. A shock selection in the Australian side for the First Test at the Sydney Sports Ground against New Zealand on the 18 July 1914 as a winger instead of his customary fullback position, he ran onto the field to become the University of Queensland and Ipswich Grammar School's first Australian player. Standing at 5 foot 7 inches, he weighed 150 pounds but was never to wear the an Australian jumper because in that winter of 1914 the players wore a Queensland jumper with a big "A" on the chest when they played in Brisbane and a NSW jumper with a big "A" on it in the games played in Sydney. The newspapers listed him coming from Warwick and was a ‘very sterling tackling and defensive player’. Selected for the first two tests in the series, the First Test in Sydney resulted in a 5-0 win to the All Blacks. The second played in Brisbane at the Brisbane Cricket Ground on the 1 August 1914, was also won by the All Blacks 17-0. Although New Zealand scored on twice on Eric’s wing, he made amends in the second half with an excellent run that gained valuable ground. One of eight Queenslanders in the second test, he lost his position to prolific scorer New South Welshman, Monty Massey-Westropp in the third Test. He did not have much of an opportunity to further his Test caps as World War I intervened for a period. Enlisting in the Imperial forces in July 1915 just after his 21st birthday, he listed his profession as a School Teacher and departed Brisbane on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on 28 March 1916. Serving in a Rifle Battalion, he received injuries that resulted in hospitalisation for three months. Later, he trained as pilot and then served as a Lieutenant in the Australian Flying Corp seeing service in England, Egypt and France. Returning to Australia midway through 1919, he was chosen for an Australian side to take on the AIF just returned from the war in a match in Sydney. Australia in Maroon jerseys lost 18-28. He was also selected to play for Queensland against the A.I.F. but was unable to take up his position and was replaced by another University of Queensland flyer, Victor Clarkson. Played for a Brisbane representative team against the North Coast in July 1919. He was later to coach at The Southport School, coaching the First XIII Rugby League side to the GPS premiership in 1922 and was the Master of The Delpratt House in 1923. The Queensland Rugby Union had folded soon after the war and Clubs and schools played League. He was a listed as being a Schoolmaster after his graduation. Francis also had the distinction and honour of being Queensland's oldest living international at the reunion of past Queensland players during the celebration of the centenary of Queensland Rugby Union in 1982. Gordon Fisher recalls in his autobiography that Eric coached him in the Ipswich Grammar First XV of 1915 where in the position of breakaway, he was instructed to stick to future University great Tommy Lawton who was playing for Brisbane Grammar school. For a time he spent time at Sydney University to study Dentistry. He graduated in 1928 with a B.D.S. and then worked as a Dentist in Warwick where he regularly appears in newspaper reports as a noted Golfer. Eric was a Foundation Life member of the University of Queensland Rugby Club and died on the 25 August 1983 in St Andrew's Hospital at the age of 89 in 1983. His son Dr John Francis presented the Club with his father's Australian and Queensland Caps that are proudly displayed in the Clubhouse.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Eric Francis's memorial?
Eric Francis's memorial is located at: Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, Holland Park West, Brisbane City, Australia.
When did Eric Francis death?
Eric Francis death on 25 Aug 1983 in Spring Hill, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia
Where are the coordinates of the Eric Francis's memorial?
Latitude: -27.5258170
Longitude: 153.0777450

Family Members:

Parent

John Vigers Francis

(1856 - 1946)

Spouse

Ena Law Francis

(1897 - 1972)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium
Holland Park West, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.5258170, 153.0777450

2. Mount Gravatt Cemetery and Crematorium
Mount Gravatt, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.5541280, 153.0659870

3. St Luke's Anglican Church Cemetery
Tarragindi, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.5157980, 153.0384450

4. St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Columbarium
South Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4855800, 153.0446860

5. St Paul Anglican Columbarium
East Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4854900, 153.0447200

6. South Brisbane Cemetery
Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4984629, 153.0257103

7. Balmoral Cemetery
Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4724180, 153.0648980

8. Tingalpa Christ Church Cemetery
Tingalpa, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4727272, 153.1117449

9. St Mary's Anglican Church Columbarium
Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4749890, 153.0353880

10. St John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery
Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.5875960, 153.1031940

11. Cathedral of St Stephen
Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4686810, 153.0285400

12. God's Acre Cemetery
Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.5718860, 153.0138340

13. Bulimba Uniting Church Cemetery
Bulimba, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4514020, 153.0623340

14. Hemmant Cemetery and Crematorium
Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4678001, 153.1339111

15. Rochedale Catholic Church Cemetery
Rochedale, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.5926510, 153.1217540

16. Saint Matthews Anglican Cemetery
Sherwood, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.5330430, 152.9869730

17. First Brisbane Burial Ground
Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4671437, 153.0149713

18. Paddington Cemetery (Defunct)
Milton, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4650180, 153.0084460

19. Francis Lookout Cemetery
Corinda, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.5370960, 152.9765400

20. Toowong Cemetery
Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4747380, 152.9829810

21. Gibson Island Plague Cemetery (Defunct)
Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4303333, 153.1269444

22. Trinity Uniting Church Columbarium
Wilston, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4284500, 153.0190260

23. Chapel Hill Uniting Church Cemetery
Brisbane, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.5076700, 152.9530800

24. Nundah Historic Cemetery
Nundah, Brisbane City, Australia
Coordinate: -27.4079200, 153.0673400