Francis was born on 5 February 1920 at 20 Hampstead Road, London to Bernard Boris Hieger, a jeweller and watchmaker shopkeeper, and Florence Jessie nee Root and he had a younger brother Ronald.

The family story can be found on the link below. After Francis died a letter was sent to the family to determine symbols/wording on his headstone. This letter went unanswered so a Cross was added by default by the CWGC. Evidence has been submitted to the CWGC and we await their decision to change the symbol to a Star of David.