Lynds, Francis Vernon

Francis Vernon Lynds was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 8 January 1895. He was the son of James and Euphemia Lynds, both of whom had been born in Canada.

At the time of his enlistment, Lynds was working as a mail carrier in Kensington, Prince Edward Island. He enlisted in the 105th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders) in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on 18 November 1915. Lynds had previous military experience, having served two years in the Prince Edward Island Light Horse Canadian Militia Regiment, as well as some time in Prince Edward Island’s 82nd Militia Regiment. After initial training in Canada, Lynds embarked for England with his unit aboard SS Empress of Britain on 15 July 1916. The ship arrived in Liverpool on 25 July 1916. Upon arrival in England, Lynds was appointed to the rank of acting corporal.

On 26 January 1917, still in England, he was transferred to the 104th Canadian Infantry Battalion, which was soon to be posted to the nascent 5th Canadian Division. Eight months later, Lynds was appointed to the rank of acting sergeant. With the breaking up of the 5th Division in England in February 1918, in order to provide reinforcements to the four Canadian divisions in the field, the 104th Battalion was absorbed into the 13th Reserve Battalion. At the same time, Lynds’s rank was reverted to that of private. Shortly afterwards, he was promoted to corporal. At the end of March 1918, Lynds was transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps in France. He was posted to the Corps’ 3rd Battalion. On 9 August 1918, Lynds was instantly killed when a shell exploded close to his gun position at the Battle of Amiens, during the Hundred Days Offensive.

Francis Vernon Lynds is buried in Bouchoir New British Cemetery, in France.