Private Edwin Harold Franklin Suffolk Regiment
The Man Edwin Harold Franklin was born on Sunday 15th November 1896 in Plaistow, West Ham, London son of Edwin, a Bricklayer and Labourer and Susan Jane nee Webb. He was one of five children, Ruth Rose born in 1895, Alice Violet W (1899-1975), Sidney Joseph (1903-1984) and Albert Frederick (1908-1978).
He was Baptised on 6th July 1897 at St Mary the Virgin Church, Plaistow and the 1901 census shows the family living at 69 Brooks Road, West Ham and in 1911 at 39 Browns Road, Plaistow. Edwin now aged 15 had found employment as a Shop Boy and later became a Packer.
At the outbreak of world War I on 4th August 1914, Edwin was aged 17 but did not enlist until 7th December 1915 aged 19 at the Army Recruiting Office, Stratford. He gave his address as 39 Browns Road and his name as Harold Edwin Franklin, transposing his first names, serving throughout the war with this name.
He enlisted into the 12th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, later transferring to the 12th and 2nd as a Private with service number M 41029. He was described as 5’.5” tall, a chest of 35” and a small scar on his right arm and left shin and of fair physical development, his religion was Church of England. He was posted to the Army Reserve until 5th April 1916 when he was mobilised and posted on the 9th,serving at home until 13th January 1917 when he embarked at Folkestone and landed at Boulogne on 14th, serving initially in the Base Depot in France and the n posted to the field on 14th February 1917 with the British Expeditionary Force.
On 11th February 1918 Edwin was injured, receiving a gun shot wound to his left arm at Le Treport and hospitalised until 26th. He was injured again 5th April 1918 a GSW again to his left arm this appearing in the War Office Daily List No.5546 of 22nd and in hospital until 1st May.
Perhaps unsurprisingly Edwin was reported as absent without leave from 2130h on 1st June 1918 until 2130h on 6th, whilst on leave in Felixstowe, he was forfeited six days pay. He repeated the offence a further three times whilst on leave and forfeited further pay as well as time in detention. He was injured a third time 27th August 1918 for another GSW to his left arm and treated until 28th September for which he was entitled to wear wound stripes.
Following the Armistice on 11th November 1918, he moved to Calais on 21st and returned to the UK on 3rd March 1919, travelling to Purfleet and was demobilised on 30th March 1919 and transferred to the Z Class reserve.
Following the war Edwin was awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals, both named to him as ‘H E Franklin’. He became a Stoker by trade and in 1939 aged 43, is shown living with Alice, Sidney and Albert still at 39 Browns Road and they are all unmarried.
In later life Edwin lived at 61 East Road, Portway, London and he died during the final quarter of 1950 aged 64, his siblings outliving him by some considerable years.
He was Baptised on 6th July 1897 at St Mary the Virgin Church, Plaistow and the 1901 census shows the family living at 69 Brooks Road, West Ham and in 1911 at 39 Browns Road, Plaistow. Edwin now aged 15 had found employment as a Shop Boy and later became a Packer.
At the outbreak of world War I on 4th August 1914, Edwin was aged 17 but did not enlist until 7th December 1915 aged 19 at the Army Recruiting Office, Stratford. He gave his address as 39 Browns Road and his name as Harold Edwin Franklin, transposing his first names, serving throughout the war with this name.
He enlisted into the 12th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, later transferring to the 12th and 2nd as a Private with service number M 41029. He was described as 5’.5” tall, a chest of 35” and a small scar on his right arm and left shin and of fair physical development, his religion was Church of England. He was posted to the Army Reserve until 5th April 1916 when he was mobilised and posted on the 9th,serving at home until 13th January 1917 when he embarked at Folkestone and landed at Boulogne on 14th, serving initially in the Base Depot in France and the n posted to the field on 14th February 1917 with the British Expeditionary Force.
On 11th February 1918 Edwin was injured, receiving a gun shot wound to his left arm at Le Treport and hospitalised until 26th. He was injured again 5th April 1918 a GSW again to his left arm this appearing in the War Office Daily List No.5546 of 22nd and in hospital until 1st May.
Perhaps unsurprisingly Edwin was reported as absent without leave from 2130h on 1st June 1918 until 2130h on 6th, whilst on leave in Felixstowe, he was forfeited six days pay. He repeated the offence a further three times whilst on leave and forfeited further pay as well as time in detention. He was injured a third time 27th August 1918 for another GSW to his left arm and treated until 28th September for which he was entitled to wear wound stripes.
Following the Armistice on 11th November 1918, he moved to Calais on 21st and returned to the UK on 3rd March 1919, travelling to Purfleet and was demobilised on 30th March 1919 and transferred to the Z Class reserve.
Following the war Edwin was awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals, both named to him as ‘H E Franklin’. He became a Stoker by trade and in 1939 aged 43, is shown living with Alice, Sidney and Albert still at 39 Browns Road and they are all unmarried.
In later life Edwin lived at 61 East Road, Portway, London and he died during the final quarter of 1950 aged 64, his siblings outliving him by some considerable years.
The Story The Victory Medal awarded to Private Harold E Franklin of the Suffolk Regiment, was located in a junk / antique shop on Gosford Street in Coventry. It was spotted on Thursday 28th July 2011 from a bus whilst the vehicle had stopped to pick up passengers. Most unusually and reminiscent of the ‘good old days’ it was in a tray in the shop window and obvious even from a distance, by the distinctive World War one ribbon.
The next day the shop was visited, the tray contained five medals, a 1914-18 British War and Victory medal pair to Corporal Thomas Redpath, of the Cameron Highlanders, another BW & VM to Private Edgar P Elliott East Surrey Regiment and Franklin’s VM. The dealer asked for an offer but stated that he could achieve quite a high price for the items if sold individually.
The medals went back onto the tray and into the window for a further week, until another visit on Friday 5th August 2011 when an offer made and accepted, thus three soldiers from the First World War, who had undoubtedly suffered depravation and hardship and no doubt earned their medals, were now to find their historical fortunes transformed from junk shop window to preservation for posterity.
Checks on Ancestry.UK revealed only Harold’s first name and his Medal Index Card confirming the award of the VM and missing BWM. For the next 13 years this was a ‘broken group’ with no biographical detail.
On 27th February 2024 however, an email was received from an antique dealer in Essex via this web site, saying he had recently acquired the 1914-18 British War Medal to Harold Franklin together with a Princess Mary Christmas Tin with its bullet pencil on original card and Christmas Card and that they were for sale. They had apparently been sold by Harold’s Grandson!
There was no hesitation in agreeing a price for the entire lot and after an unknown number of years Harold’s medals were reunited.
Following the acquisition of his War Medal, a further cursory search of Ancestry.UK uncovered a burnt selection of his World War I service papers. These enabling a year of birth, his middle name ‘Edwin’ and an address in West Ham, London to be revealed and cross referenced, resulting in the location of his birth, marriage and census information.
This allowed a reasonable biography to be compiled, although his correct name appears to be Edwin Harold Franklin, he having enlisted as Harold Edwin and it is to this latter name his medals are named. But, his military and census records all match with the address and parents details.
A great result after so many years and especially pleasing to reveal so much more personal information as a result.
The next day the shop was visited, the tray contained five medals, a 1914-18 British War and Victory medal pair to Corporal Thomas Redpath, of the Cameron Highlanders, another BW & VM to Private Edgar P Elliott East Surrey Regiment and Franklin’s VM. The dealer asked for an offer but stated that he could achieve quite a high price for the items if sold individually.
The medals went back onto the tray and into the window for a further week, until another visit on Friday 5th August 2011 when an offer made and accepted, thus three soldiers from the First World War, who had undoubtedly suffered depravation and hardship and no doubt earned their medals, were now to find their historical fortunes transformed from junk shop window to preservation for posterity.
Checks on Ancestry.UK revealed only Harold’s first name and his Medal Index Card confirming the award of the VM and missing BWM. For the next 13 years this was a ‘broken group’ with no biographical detail.
On 27th February 2024 however, an email was received from an antique dealer in Essex via this web site, saying he had recently acquired the 1914-18 British War Medal to Harold Franklin together with a Princess Mary Christmas Tin with its bullet pencil on original card and Christmas Card and that they were for sale. They had apparently been sold by Harold’s Grandson!
There was no hesitation in agreeing a price for the entire lot and after an unknown number of years Harold’s medals were reunited.
Following the acquisition of his War Medal, a further cursory search of Ancestry.UK uncovered a burnt selection of his World War I service papers. These enabling a year of birth, his middle name ‘Edwin’ and an address in West Ham, London to be revealed and cross referenced, resulting in the location of his birth, marriage and census information.
This allowed a reasonable biography to be compiled, although his correct name appears to be Edwin Harold Franklin, he having enlisted as Harold Edwin and it is to this latter name his medals are named. But, his military and census records all match with the address and parents details.
A great result after so many years and especially pleasing to reveal so much more personal information as a result.
Edwin Franklin's World War I attestation form and 1911 Census confirming the same address although his first names were transposed on his army records and medals.
Edwin Franklin's 1914 Princess Mary's Gift Box and remaining contents. The tin may not be his as he was not in uniform at Christmas 1914.
Click here to read about the Princess Mary's Christmas Gift Box
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 41020 PTE. H.E.FRANKLIN SUFF.R.
- Victory Medal: 41020 PTE. H.E.FRANKLIN SUFF.R.
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