Thank you to Patricia Brazier for the following research.
Francis James was born on 6th March 1866 in Blackheath, Kent. His father is Francis, a Merchant with the East India Company. He was born in Glasgow. His mother is Agnes (nee Cadell), she was born in India.
In the 1871 census Francis is 5 years old and is living at Juniper Hill in Mickleham, with his parents and one sister, Margaret who is 7 years old.
Francis’s mother Agnes died in 1879, whilst the family are still living in Juniper Hill. she is buried in Dorking Cemetery.
In the 1881 census Francis Snr is still living at Juniper Hill. Francis Jnr is attending Charterhouse School in Godalming and Margaret is at school in Ham, Surrey.
Francis left Charterhouse in 1884 and then attended Jesus College Cambridge. In 1888 he joined the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders.
Francis married Rhoda Dagma Bevis in Rathdown Ireland in September 1899. They had two children Francis Desmond, born in Ayrshire in 1902 and Myrth born in 1905 in Dunboyne Ireland.
He served with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders in South Africa from 1899 to 1901 where he was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the DSO. His regiment was involved in battles at Modder River, Paardebeg, Johanesburgh and Diamond Hill. He retired in 1906.
In the 1911 census he is living with his wife and family at The Coombes Marsten Trussell in Market Harborough. His occupation is described as Major in the Army reserve.
In late 1917 he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Millbank where he died on 11th December. He is buried in Dorking Cemetery with his parents.
| Born | Blackheath | |
| Lived | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | Francis and Agnes Richardson of Juniper Hall, Dorking | |
| Husband of | Rhoda Dagmar Richardson | |
| Father of | Francis Desmond and Myrth Richardson | |
| Regiment | 4th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | |
| Date of Death | 11th December 1917 | |
| Place of Death | United Kingdom | |
| Age | 51 | |
| Cemetery | Dorking Cemetery |
