Orders, Decorations and Medals

Family group:

A Surrey Commercial Dock Company Medal for Saving Life awarded to E. A. Franklin

Surrey Commercial Dock Company Medal for Saving Life, silver (Elijah A. Franklin, March 25th 1909)

Four: Stoker Petty Officer E. T. Franklin, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (291194 S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (291194 S.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (291194 Sto. P.O., H.M.S. Vanguard) generally extremely fine (5) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Edward Thomas Franklin was born in Deptford, Kent on 10 August 1878. A Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 17 January 1899. He was advanced to Stoker when based at Pembroke II in August 1899 and to Leading Stoker in June 1906 when on Illustrious. Posted to the battleship Vanguard in June 1912, he attained the rank of Stoker Petty Officer on her in January 1913. He was fortunate to leave the ship in November 1916 as the vessel was sunk due to an internal explosion whilst at anchor at Scapa Flow on 9 July 1917. Posted to Pembroke II, Franklin died of cancer on 2 May 1918. He was buried in Camberwell Old Cemetery. Edward Thomas Franklin was the brother of E. A. Franklin, of Toll Cottage, Trafalgar Bridge, Trafalgar Road, Peckham, London. Sold with (damaged) inscribed lids for the card boxes containing the Great War Medals and with copied service papers.