Vol. Francis Jordan 1st November 1954 4th June 1975

Francis Jordan was born on the 1 st November 1954 in Jonesborough, Co. Armagh. He was the eldest child, and only son of Kevin and Christine Jordan. He had five sisters, Sheila, Imelda, Caroline, Majella and Paula. He attended school in Jonesborough, and formed many friendships that were to last the whole of his relatively short life. When he left school Francis worked on the family farm at Edenappa, Jonesborough, and as a barman in The Old Border Inn, Carrickarnon.

The early 1970's were a difficult time for young people, who had to endure constant harassment by the Crown Forces, particularly in South Armagh. The introduction of internment, Bloody Sunday, and the continuing suppression of the rights of nationalist people, led Francis to join the 3rd Battalion, I.R.A South Armagh. In an effort to increase surveillance in the Killeen area, the British installed a multi-million pound computerised spy tower at the Cloughogue checkpoint. Under Francis' command, a bomb destroyed the tower shortly after its installation.

In another celebrated operation, Francis organised the hi-jacking of a light aeroplane from an airfield south of Dundalk. It was flown to Faughil mountain where bombs were dropped on British troops who were dug in on the mountain. On 4th June 1975, Francis, with other members of his unit, was on a bombing mission in Bessbrook when they were confronted by British soldiers who opened fire. Francis was wounded, and even though this was obvious to the soldiers, they left him lying on the roadside without assistance, which resulted in his death.

Francis was buried with full military honours in his native Jonesborough, his funeral being one of the largest ever seen in the area. His death was a tragic blow to his family and a great loss to the Republican Movement.