Name
Laurence Thomas Franklin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
NA
Biography
Laurence was the son of Thomas and Annie Catherine, born in Whitwell and Shenley respectively. Thomas moved to Pirton, taking on Walnut Tree Farm before the war and later Highdown farm.
The 1911 census lists two children: Laurence Thomas (b c 1894) and Kathleen Mary (b c 1898), both born in Whitwell. The census lists three others at the address, Thomas Hearle, a boarder, and Gladys Bales and Alice Barker, both servants.
Laurence is recorded in the Parish Magazine of July 1916 as enlisting since March 2nd 1916 and serving in the Army Veterinary Corps. The North Herts Mail of May 11th 1916 reported that he was stationed in Luton at that date. He was born in 1883 or 1884 and was Dick Franklin's father. Dick died in 2008, but he confirmed that Laurence was called up in 1916, and that he only served for a short time because, as Laurence’s father was ill, he had to return to run Walnut Tree Farm.
He was married to Clara Cassandra Franklin and they had two children: Dick and Joy (the benefactor of Pirton JoyCare). Laurence and Clara are buried in St. Mary’s churchyard. Laurence died on April 26th 1975, aged eighty-one and Clara on June 26th 1980, aged ninety-one.
Additional Information
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission
Acknowledgments
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission
