ONE of the region’s last surviving Second World War veterans has died, aged 101.
Harry Francis served in the Royal Navy before transferring to the Royal Marines and becoming one of the first members of the elite Special Boat Service.
He passed away peacefully at his Soundwell home on the morning of September 24 .
Harry, who grew up in Wiltshire, lied about his age to volunteer in 1942, when he was still 16.
He fought in the Battle of the Atlantic on the destroyer HMS Brecon, hunting U-boats and escorting convoys, before being deployed to Malta in the Mediterranean.
After volunteering for the Royal Marines, Harry became an early recruit to the SBS in 1943, fighting in Sicily and mainland Italy during the Allied invasion and taking part in raids on Lebanon, which was governed by the Vichy France government.
He was sent on a mission to German-occupied Yugoslavia with an envoy from Winston Churchill, during which time he met partisan leader Tito.
Harry and his comrades in No. 2 SBS then fought the Japanese, first on the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean, then in Burma. There they carried out reconnaissance and lightning raids on Japanese units, operating behind enemy lines around the Irrawaddy river.
On one raid Harry was stabbed in the stomach by a Japanese soldier, and had to be carried back to an outpost by his comrades before being taken to hospital, first in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and then in the UK.
After the war he worked as a painter and decorator, and moved to Bristol around 40 years ago.
Last year, as he turned 100, Harry shared his memories with Voice readers for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which marked the end of the war.
His wife Gwen said: “Harry was the love of my life, and the heart of our family. To everyone who knew him, he was just H.
“He was so proud to have served with the Royal Marines, and especially to have been one of the first to join the Special Boat Service.
“But he was just as proud of his family. He was a loving dad, grandad and great-grandad, and he adored every one of them.
“He loved being part of this community. He was never happier than when he was right in the middle of it, with a story to tell.
“We’re all heartbroken, and I’ll miss him more than I can say. But we’re so grateful for all the kindness people have shown us.”
Harry regularly attended events organised by Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion, which covers Fishponds, most recently taking part in South Gloucestershire Armed Forces Day at Page Park, in June.
RBL branch and Armed Forces Day organising committee chair Ian Campbell said: “Harry belonged to a generation that gave everything so that we could live in freedom.
“His quiet bravery, and his remarkable life, will not be forgotten.
“Our thoughts are with our dear friend Gwen and her family at this time, and we will always remember Harry and his legacy.”
Branch president and co-leader of South Gloucestershire Council Ian Boulton said it was a great privilege to know Harry, whose presence in the community will be “greatly missed”.
He said: “Despite the extraordinary and heroic experiences he had during the war, Harry remained a modest and thoroughly good-humoured man.
“Harry represented a generation whose courage, resilience and sense of duty helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today.”
Harry’s funeral is due to took place on October 26 at Westerleigh Crematorium, at 1.30pm.
Imjin soldier Reg dies
A VETERAN of the Gloucestershire Regiment’s famous stand at the Battle of Imjin River during the Korean War has died, aged 94.
Reg Portlock helped save the city of Seoul from a huge invasion force of Chinese soldiers in April 1951.
The 750 men of the 1st Battalion fought a defensive battle against more than 10,000 Chinese troops of the 63rd People’s Volunteer Army, eventually becoming surrounded on what would later be known as Gloster Hill.
Reg believed he was the last ammunition truck driver to make it out from the battlefield.