Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Franks, a draper’s clerk, born in the October quarter of 1865 in Bourne, Lincolnshire and baptised on the 3rd December 1865 in the Church of St. Mary and All Saint’s, Bourne (son of William Franks, 1833-1913 and Emma Steel, 1840) and his wife, Ellen Franks (nee Cartwright, married on the 8th October 1891 in St. Mary’s Church, North Somercotes, Lincolnshire), born in the April quarter of 1862 in North Somercotes and baptised on the 17th May 1863 in St. Peter’s Church, South Somercotes, Lincolnshire (daughter of Edward Parnham Cartwright, 1833 and Ann Rollinson, 1839). Edward Cartwright was born on the 24th September 1893 in Oakham, Rutland and baptised on the 20th October 1895 in All Saint’s Church, Oakham, his siblings were, Kate Ellen, born in the July quarter of 1893 and baptised on the 20th October 1895 in All Saint’s Church, Oakham and Thomas Duncan, born on the 12th November 1894 and baptised on the 20th October 1895 in All Saint’s Church, Oakham, both his siblings were born in Oakham, in March 1901 the family home was at Northgate Street, Oakham. In April 1911 Edward was employed as a builder’s clerk and was residing in the family home at Northgate Street, Oakham, together with his father, a draper’s clerk, his mother and siblings, Kate, a student teacher and Thomas, an organ builder’s apprentice.
At the age of twelve he left Oakham National Schools, having gained a Rutland County Council Scholarship, tenable at Oakham School for two years, and while there won a Senior Scholarship, going on to complete a five-year course. He was a member of the local Scouts and in January 1911 he joined the 5th Battalion Leicestershire (Territorial) Regiment, in which he served for almost four years before he went on war service. He was by profession a Post Office lineman, being employed in the Post Office Engineering Department at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, and upon the outbreak of war had just been appointed lineman at Uppingham, Rutland. He embarked for France in February 1915, having been promoted to the rank of Sergeant the previous month, and he died from the wounds he received at the Hohenzollern Redoubt on the 15th October of the same year. He was officially reported “wounded in action” but could not be traced to a hospital, and subsequent enquiries show that he was at first wounded in the hand, but having had it temporarily dressed he continued fighting, and the last that was seen of him was when he was lying wounded, and although a search was made for him, it was in vain. Note that the date of death is given in this report as two days after the 13th October 1915.
Edward enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 25th January 1911 in Oakham, and was allotted the regimental service number 1097. He gave his place of birth as Oakham, Rutland and age as 17 years 3 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as clerk, presently in the employ of Messrs. Nichols Bros. He gave his present address as Oakham.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Oakham on the 27th January 1911 and recorded his birthplace as Oakham, Rutland, declared age as 17 years 90 days, trade or occupation as clerk, that he was 5-feet 10 inches in height, weighed [no record] lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32 and 35½ inches, his vision was described as good his physical development was described as good. Enlisted at Oakham on the 25th January 1911. Joined on enlistment Leicestershire Regt.
His medical inspection record gave his full name as Edward cartwright Franks, his apparent age as 17 years 3 months, his height as 5-foot 10 inches, his chest measurement as 32 inches to 35½ inches, his vision as good and his physical development as good.
He was certified as fit for the Territorial Force. Date 27th January 1911. Place Oakham.
He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, William Franks, Northgate Street, Oakham.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Oakham. 25/1/11.
Posted. To 5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 25/1/11.
Attended. Annual training, High Tor Camp. Pte. 6/8/11 – 20/8/11.
Attended. Annual training, Aberystwyth. L/Cpl. 4/8/12 – 11/8/12.
Embodied service commenced. L/Cpl. 5/8/14.
Promoted. Corporal. 4/9/14.
Promoted. Sergeant at Sawbridgeworth. (Part 2 Orders 5/1/15). 1/1/15.
Embarked. With 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 26/2/15.
Landed. At Le Havre. 27/2/15.
To Hospital, wounded. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Died of wounds. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Buried by Officer Commanding 1st Bn. The King’s Regt. In the Field. 24/11/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 25/1/11 – 27/2/15. 4 years 34 days.
France. 28/2/15 – 13/10/15. 228 days.
Total Service. 4 years 262 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At 6.00 am Battalion in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00 pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50 pm. At 2.00 pm assault. 5th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT and 4th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGIMENT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by Machine Gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Company officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00 pm “B” Company sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by “A” and part of “D” Companies. Machine Guns in position along original front line now held by “C” Company and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lieutenant C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30 pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front-line trench. Many of “A” and “B” Companies still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.
An account of the events of the 12th and 13th October 1915.
On the 12th October 1915 the Battalion marched the ten miles from the village of Hesdigneul to the Redoubt in “fighting order”, with great coats rolled and strapped to their backs. They arrived at 10.00pm at Vermelles, and the following eight hours were spent packed solid in communication trenches. Each soldier carried six sandbags and every third a shovel. As you could imagine, none of them slept and the lucky ones had a drink before our artillery opened up at noon on the 13th October. The enemy artillery responded fifteen minutes later, and at 1.00pm we released chlorine gas, and disastrously for us an enemy shell shattered some containers in our frontline. At 2.00pm our troops, many wearing gas helmets went “over the top” and bayonet charged the enemy positions. Terrific machine gun fire tore into them and a shrapnel barrage added to the heavy casualties. Hours passed and furious hand to hand fighting took place and repeated bayonet charges drove the enemy back, who in turn counter attacked. After darkness fell Lance Corporal Clayson of the 1st/5th Battalion saved many lives by dragging wounded back to our trenches, and Captain Barton spent hours in No Man’s land giving morphine and water to the dying. When food and drink was brought up during the night the men had their first meal for twenty-four hours, but still no sleep. The morning of the fourteenth was very misty and this became smog as the Germans continued to use shrapnel and gas shells throughout the day. It was at 8.00am on the fifteenth that the relief was completed and buses took most of our troops back to Hesdigneul. The 1st/5th Battalion lost four officers, six wounded, two gassed and thirty-five men killed, one hundred and thirty-two wounded and twenty-two gassed.
On Monday, December 27th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page three, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Previously reported wounded, Sergt. E. C. FRANKS (1097), 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (T.F.), is now reported to have died of wounds.
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