Josh Francis
Archibald (Josh) Francis was born in Reading in 1913. He went to Reading School where they became friends with John Boulting and William Ball. According to the authors of We Cannot Park on Both Sides (2000): "John Hall ... who was in the same house as him at Reading School... remembers him (Francis) as captain of West House, prefect, and Company Sergeant Major in the Officer Training Corps, as being being a disciplinarian with something of an establishment streak."
After leaving school Francis became a "convinced and enthusiastic Socialist" and was an active member of the Labour Party League of Youth. Other branch members included John Boulting, Roy Poole and Rosamund Powell. Francis, like most members of the LPLY, was to the left of the leadership of the Labour Party. This resulted in them having close contact with the Reading Branch of the Young Communist League, that included William Ball, Thora Silverthorne and Reginald Saxton.
Francis worked as an insurance inspector and on the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War Francis became very involved in the campaign to support the Popular Front government against the Nationalists led by General Francisco Franco. In November 1936 he decided to join the International Brigades. As his friend John Hall pointed out: "A few days later he told his fiancee, Miss Joyce Huggins of Cressingham Road... She was naturally upset but, seeing his mind was made up, pluckily set to work to help him make his secret preparations."
In December 1936 Francis arrived in Paris where he was involved in organizing the transfer of volunteers to Spain. Two months later he travelled to Albacete when he joined the British Battalion. He wrote to Harry Jones, the Reading secretary of the Communist Party of Great Britain, that "the struggle could be brought to a speedy end if only the working class of Britain would, and they could, force the National Government to stand firm against the Fascist invaders."
Francis was wounded at Brunete. Cyril Sexton was with him when it happened: "I was in a lorry with him (Francis) crossing the plain between Brunete and Villanueva de la Cañada when we were strafed by an enemy plane." As a result of his wounds he was sent back to base camp at Albacete. In another letter to Harry Jones Francis explained how he met Arthur Horner: "I have left my old Brigade and I am now in a job in Albacete as they consider I have had enough fighting for a bit."
Josh Francis also took part in the fighting at Jarama. According to the authors of We Cannot Park on Both Sides (2000): "That night Josh Francis, who had already been mentioned in Brigade orders for gallantry, brought up food and ammunition for the remains of the Battalion. They had held out for seven hours against trained, experienced, regular soldiers. Two of their company commanders were dead and out of four hundred men in the rifle companies only one hundred and twenty five were left. Ironically, the heavy casualties meant that for once Francis had plenty of food to offer. Despite their weakened state they would have to fight again in the morning and Cyril Sexton and Bill Ball had guards to mount."
In a letter that he wrote in August 1937 Josh Francis explained the conditions that he was experiencing in Spain: "I realise it is summer time and hot in England but remember our comrades are fighting and working out here in a temperature which is unknown in England. We of the present generation have no right to follow a normal life of lazing in the summer... comrades should be prepared to sacrifice their pleasures... to put more and more work in the class struggle."
Josh Francis returned to the front-line at Aragón. He wrote to Harry Jones on 21st February 1938 that he and his comrades were "on the eve of going into action against the common enemy, Fascism" and that we "pledge ourselves to do our best to crush this monster and forward the work of progress and democracy in the world."
Francis was appointed as commander of No 1 Company. On 9th March, 1938 the Nationalist Army offensive at Aragón, with the objective of dividing the Republican forces in two. Nationalist forces involved around 100,000 men and 150 Italian and German tanks and over 900 aircraft. Francis was badly wounded on the first day of the fighting. According to Jimmy Moon he "died on the stretcher."
In the 1938 May Day pageant held in Reading large photographs of Josh Francis and William Ball were carried under the slogan "Reading's heroes in Spain."
Primary Sources
(1) Josh Francis, letter Harry Jones (14th August, 1937)
I would like to draw the attention of Reading members to the fact that now, more than ever before you comrades in England can give invaluable assistance to the struggle in Spain. More money, more individual supplies and above all more propaganda is needed.
The struggle could be brought to a speedy end if only the working class of Britain would, and they could, force the National Government to stand firm against the Fascist invaders...
I realise it is summer time and hot in England but remember our comrades are fighting and working out here in a temperature which is unknown in England. We of the present generation have no right to follow a normal life of lazing in the summer... comrades should be prepared to sacrifice their pleasures... to put more and more work in the class struggle...
Well comrades I look forward to the time when I can see you all again and help in the local struggle. I wish you all the best of luck in the struggle and believe from what Harry tells me (that is as far as I can ever believe him) that things are progressing now. News of the progress at the Aerodrome I the Phillips and Powis aircraft factory at Woodley - is great - lets see some more factories in the district organised and ready for mass action.
(2) Josh Francis, letter Harry Jones (18th September, 1937)
I got your letter of the first with enclosures today. I am glad Arthur Horner wrote you re: Spain. He is obviously a great guy - it was the first time I had actually met him in the flesh. I have no doubt that you do work a little, in fact you are not such a bad hombre taking you all round. I did get a letter from the branch, when, I can't remember, and I did reply to it at the time. The leaflets are certainly good. I recognise the inimitable 'Jones' touch to them - am I right? The Reading Citizen has sweet EA. in it, as usual, but the other paper is new to me and very illuminating. It's good to know that the Spain meeting went over - it shows that Reading, given the right publicity, etc., is still responsive. Well, so Wesker did it again, he has his uses and can still be quite helpful.
The aerodrome situation seems to be quite good but H&P I Huntley and Palmers biscuit factory I is certainly a problem. In general it looks as though the local situation has improved, and it is good to hear that the Labour Party is stirring a little. The poster parade situation seems the same, but I can say nothing because I never used to take part. Out here there have been several successful battles and it has been great to force Franco's gang back in places where he had been thought to hold impregnable positions. I have left my old Brigade and am now in a job in Albacete as they consider I have had enough fighting for a bit.
(3) The Reading Standard (18th December, 1937)
There are at present three Reading people in Spain helping with ambulance units in Madrid (Silverthorne, Saxton and Poole), and by the time this is published they will probably have been joined at the front by another of their townsmen.
He is Archibald Frank Francis, a 24-year-old insurance inspector, who suddenly threw up his job a week ago in order to help the Spanish Government in their defence of Madrid. He took this step after three weeks of careful thought during which only a few friends knew of his intentions.
He came to his decision after reading appeals in various newspapers for food and clothing to be sent to distressed civilians in Madrid... and when last heard of he was half way across the continent to join the International Brigade.
(4) Mike Cooper and Ray Parkes, We Cannot Park on Both Sides (2000)
That night Josh Francis, who had already been mentioned in Brigade orders for gallantry, brought up food and ammunition for the remains of the Battalion. They had held out for seven hours against trained, experienced, regular soldiers. Two of their company commanders were dead and out of four hundred men in the rifle companies only one hundred and twenty five were left. Ironically, the heavy casualties meant that for once Francis had plenty of food to offer. Despite their weakened state they would have to fight again in the morning and Cyril Sexton and Bill Ball had guards to mount.