Barnaby Francis

A budding athlete

Barnaby “Barney” Francis enlisted in Sussex, New Brunswick, on 16 June 1915. He was eighteen years old. Like many Mi’kmaw soldiers from Lennox Island First Nation, he served with the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick). This battalion was known as the “Fighting 26th.” When the war began, 288 people lived on the reserve. Ten percent of them—30 people— served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

As a young man, Barney initially had a difficult time adjusting to army life. This changed when he began to focus his time on physical activity. While in France, he competed in a footrace against Tom Longboat, a famous Onondaga athlete from Ontario. At the time, Longboat was known as the world’s greatest marathoner. He encouraged Barney to continue to practice running after the war.

Lennox Island soldiers at Amiens

In August 1918, Barney took part in one of Canada’s most significant battles of the First World War. The Battle of Amiens was a large, surprise attack that successfully pushed the Germans back. It led to the end of the First World War.

The 26th Battalion played an important role during the first wave of the battle. The commanding officer recognized contributions of the fifteen soldiers from Lennox Island. After the battle, Lieutenant Ernest Strong wrote:

“Lennox Island need never be ashamed but [should] be very proud of the work all their boys are doing and have done at the front.”

By 11 November 1918, when the war ended, 14 of the 26th Battalion’s Lennox Island crew were injured. Barney’s brother, Peter Francis, was one of them. He was wounded by shrapnel and lost the middle finger on his left hand. Louis Toney, stepson of Chief Sark of Lennox Island, was killed in action.

Success in sports

Barney continued to train and compete as a medium-distance runner when he returned to Canada. In 1922, he established a new track record for the half mile event at a meet in Charlottetown. He also helped his track and field club win the Maritime Championship in Halifax. In 1923, he became the Canadian Mile Champion after winning the one-mile race at the Canadian Track and Field Championships. Later that year, he competed at trials in Montreal for the 1924 Paris Olympics team.

Barney Francis was inducted into the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame in 1982. He died in 1990 at age 93 and is buried in Lennox Island First Nation.

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Barnaby Francis has left his mark. Discover more stories.