Francis Penrose Lyons was born in 1911  to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lyons who lived at 103 South Walnut Street in West Chester Pennsylvania.  He was one of 3 children, including brother Jessie and sister Dorothy.

Francis attended schools in West Chester and worked for the town’s newspaper the Daily Local News. He was known to his friends as “Spriggy”.

Francis married his wife Veronica and they moved to an apartment on the corner of Gay and Matlack Streets in West Chester.

Francis entered the Army in 1941, and received training as a medic.  He then was sent overseas in November 1942, serving with the 168^th Infantry Regiment, 34^th Infantry Division, part of General Mark Clarks famed 5^th Army.

Francis served in Tunisia in the North African desert.  Early in the Campaign he was mistakenly reported Killed In Action, but the information proved untrue.

His division then landed in Italy and fought in Naples, and Anzio.

Private First Class Francis P. Lyons died on November 22, 1944 in Italy.  His death is listed as non battle.

Francis is buried at the Florence American Cemetery in Via Cassia, Italy.

 

 

 

Francis was survived by his daughter Dorothy May (12 at the time of his death) and son  David Allen (8).