Name
William Franklin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/04/1917
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
47454
Northumberland Fusiliers
23rd Bn. (4th Tyneside Scottish)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 2 and 3
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial,
St. Peter’s Church Memorial, Mill End, Nr Rickmansworth
Pre War
William was born in Harefield in 1877 the son of Frederick and Margaret (nee Philpot) Franklin. His father was a Joiner and in 1881 he and his wife, their five children, and Margaret's mother Eliza Philpot were living Rickmansworth High Street.
By 1891 Frederick had become a Mineral Water Manufacturer, the family was still in the High Street and William age 14 was a Bottle Washer.
In December 1897 William married Isabella Brickell in Mill End and in both 1901 and 1911 they were living Rickmansworth High Street, William having become a Mineral Water Manufacturer in the family business. Between 1899 and 1915 William and Isabella had nine children one of whom died very young. In 1939 Isabella was living with her daughter Violet and her husband Arthur C Bolwell at 63 Sandridge Road Melksham.
William was the uncle of Frederick Edward Franklin died of wounds 30th of September 1918 while Isabella’s brother James Brickell died on the 20th of May 1917.
He is recorded as enlisting in Bedford.
Wartime Service
The Battalion was formed at Newcastle on the 16th of November 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City. They joined 102nd Brigade 34th Division and landed in France in January 1916.
During 1916 they saw action at the Battles of Albert, Bazentin Ridge and Pozieres Ridge, and in 1917 at the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe and at Arras. It was at Arras that William was killed in action.
The Battalion arrived there on the 24th of April and on the night of the 28th/29th launched a night attack on the German positions in front of, and in, a chemical works. The men came under heavy machinegun fire as soon as they left their trenches and fighting went on for most of the 29th. The battalion lost 17 killed, 71 wounded, 75 missing.
Additional Information
William and his nephew Frederick are also commemorated on the family headstone in Rickmansworth (Chorley Road) Cemetery. Their inscription reads:
ALSO OF WILLIAM FRANKLIN
NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIER'S:
KILLED ON THE PARIS FRONT APRIL 29TH 1917, AGED 40 YEARS.
NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIER'S:
KILLED ON THE PARIS FRONT APRIL 29TH 1917, AGED 40 YEARS.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
