Francis Samuel Dean was born in Ballarat and was a Traveller when he enlisted in the 23rd Battalion, A Company on 19 February 1915 at the age of 39. He left Australia on the SS Ionian in early September, and served at Gallipoli with the 23rd Battalion. After Gallipoli he was posted to the 59th Battalion where his clashes with authority continued to the point he faced a General Court Martial in June 1916. The result was a sentence of 12 months imprisonment with hard labour, served partly in Egypt before he was returned to Australia. After his release from Geelong Prison he returned to France in July 1917 to serve with the 24th Battalion. On March 22nd 1918 he was wounded in action (gassed). Minor brushes with the authorities continued as his health declined. He was returned to Australia, and in January 1919 at the age of 43, he was discharged on the grounds of æage and chronic rheumatism'.
Tree No. 407