Background
FRANCIS, Claude Augustus was born in 1857 in Surrey. 3rd son of late A. D. Francis of Great. Cumberland Place, Hyde Park, and Rosa, youngest daughter of Captain Wilkinson, Royal Navy.
FRANCIS, Claude Augustus was born in 1857 in Surrey. 3rd son of late A. D. Francis of Great. Cumberland Place, Hyde Park, and Rosa, youngest daughter of Captain Wilkinson, Royal Navy.
Studied at Craven College.
Entered Hussars, I.Y., 1875. Cape Mounted Rifles, 1876. Served South African War, 1877-1878 (medal with clasp).
Inspector Constabulary and Military Police, and Justice of the Peace British Guiana, 1880. Acting Deputy InspectorGeneral, 1892-1895. Inspector-General, 1896.
Member Excise, Quarantine, and Health Boards. Commandant Armed Constabulary, Chief of Police, Sheriff, and Justice of the Peace, Fiji, 1897. Local Colonel, 1898; raised in Fiji a European Defence Force.
Marshal, Vice-Admiralty Court, and Member Board of Health. Represented Fiji at the inauguration ceremony of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sydney, 1901, and again, with contingent of Fijian native troops, at the opening by the Princo of Wales of the first session of Parliament at Melbourne. Member of Legislative Council 1905; Commandant Local Forces, Fiji, since 1898.