Captain Jefferson Francis

Captain Jefferson Clifford Francis was born Remembrance Day, 11 November 1970, in Oromocto, New Brunswick. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He completed a BA (Honours) in Mass Communications in 1997 and a MA in Canadian Studies in 1999, both from Carleton University. He completed the greater part of a PhD in Sociology before deciding on a change of career, and enrolled in the Canadian Forces under the Direct Entry program in September 2001.

Capt Francis graduated from DP 1 Mod 2 (Phase IV) Artillery training on 12 August 2004 as the top student in the course. He was posted to C Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA) in Shilo, Manitoba and earned his parachute wings in November 2004.

Capt Francis was promoted to his current rank in January 2005. He was an outstanding officer who had trained his team and himself hard for their mission, a mission they had been very much looking forward to. Jeff was able to form his team into a very tightly knit group and they provided excellent support to the Battle Group.

He was indeed a quiet professional, the very hallmark of Canadian soldiers. He also had a dry sense of humour which went a long way to making his team so effective. He was a valued member of the Battery and the Regiment and was highly respected by his superiors, peers and subordinates alike. He died while on duty in the province of Kandahar when the vehicle he was driving struck an Improvised Explosive Device on 4 July 2007.

Capt Francis is survived by Sylvie Secours of Toronto and their son, Ry Logan Secours-Francis, as well as his parents, Russell Francis and Marion Murray of Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia.