Gardiner, Francis Forsyth

Francis Gardiner was born on November 19, 1888 in Auchtergaven, Scotland to parents John and Euphemia Gardiner. He spent his childhood in Scotland with siblings David, John, Robert, Alexander, James, Janet, Maggie, William and Mary. As a young man, Francis immigrated to Canada, along with two of this brothers. When the Great War broke out, all three Gardiner boys in Canada enlisted with the Lethbridge Highlanders. The three remaining in the old country enlisted with the British Expeditionary Forces. On March 22, 1916, Francis Gardiner enlisted with the 113th Battalion CEF Lethbridge Highlanders. He arrived in England on October 6, 1916 on the SS Tuscania. Upon arrival in England, he held the rank of Lance Corporal. Lance Corporal Gardiner was transferred to the 16th Battalion CEF on November 12, 1916 and embarked for France shortly thereafter. He remained at the front lines with the 16th Battalion for nine months and saw action at key battles including the Somme, Arras, Vimy Ridge and Hill 70. On August 16, 1917, Lance Corporal Gardiner was hit in the back with a piece of shrapnel. Later that day, he passed away and was laid to rest at Lillers Communal Cemetery. Francis Gardiner was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His mother, Euphemia received the Memorial Cross and death plaque in honour of her so