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Private Francis Edward Beaufort, service number 41720
Francis Beaufort was 29 years old when he attested for military service on 23 October 1916. At this time he lived in Pahiatua and worked as a storeman for the Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association in Pahiatua.
Francis entered training camp on 2 January 1917 and embarked from Welllington with the 23rd Reinforcements on 14 March 1917. He arrived in Devonport, England on 21 May 1917 and was based at the training camp at Sling until he was sent to France on 22 June 1917. He joined the 7th Company, 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment and fought with them at Passchendaele. On 31 October, 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry in that battle.
In March 1918 Francis was wounded and transported to hospital in England.
He returned to New Zealand, with his lungs weakened by mustard gas, on 23 June 1919. On 31 March 1920, at Carterton, Francis married Margaret Sutherland Grant. They had a son, Digby James Beaufort who in World War II served with the 25th Infantry Batallion and was killed in action in Italy on 11 April 1945. They had three other children, Francis Edward, Gordon and Janet.
Francis died on 26 June 1930 aged only 43. His Granddaughter recalls that 'Grandfather went to rescue a birthing cow in a storm who was suffering difficulties. He caught a common cold and died the next day from pneumonia due to his weakened lungs. My Aunty remembers leaving the hospital when she was three years old with my Grandmother distraught and tears dripping from her face.'