Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Sergeant E. J. Franklin, 78th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, who was mentioned in despatches for ‘good service in action at Boschbult on 31st March, 1902’ and was promoted to Sergeant by the Commander-in-Chief; commissioned in September 1914, he was wounded and then drowned as a result of the sinking of the Hospital Ship Lanfranc on 17 April 1917

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (6599 Bomb. E. J. Franklin, 78th Bty., R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6599 Serjt: E. J. Franklin. R.F.A.) contained in a red leather fitted case, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £280-£320

M.I.D. London Gazette 18 July 1902: ‘6599 Corporal E. G. Franklin, 78th Battery, Royal Field Artillery [together with three Gunners of the same Battery]. For good service in action at Boschbult on 31st March, 1902.’ Franklin was promoted to Sergeant by the Commander-in-Chief and each of the three Gunners to Bombardier.

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 July 1916 and 18 May 1917.

Edgar John Franklin was born at Colchester, Essex, and attested for the Royal Field Artillery at Warley on 25 October 1894, aged 14 years 3 months. He served in South Africa from 13 November 1900 to 21 January 1904, was promoted to Corporal in July 1901, and to Sergeant, for services as above, in March 1902. He afterwards served in India until January 1912, by which time he had been promoted to Battery Quarter-Master Sergeant. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 26 September 1914, and disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt, on 14 July 1915, and disembarked at Gallipoli on 9 August 1915. He returned to Egypt in December 1915 and transferred to the Western Front. He was wounded by a gunshot in the left leg on 9 April 1917, and transferred to England per Hospital Ship Lanfranc on 16 April, but was reported missing, believed drowned, as a result of the sinking of H.S. Lanfranc on 17 April 1917. He is commemorated by name on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton.