Ann Franklin has submitted the following:-
Born on the 5th September 1888 in Urpeth, Chester le Street, Co Durham, Robert was the first child of Joseph Franklin and his wife Mary Jane Wears. Sister Florence Emily Franklin was born in 1893, but on the 29 May 1895 their mother died at the early age of 24. Robert was raised by his father at the family home at Greenfield Cottages, Crook whilst Florence lived with the maternal grandparents in Beamish, Co Durham.
On the 14 August 1909 Robert married Ethel Calvert at St John’s Church, Chopwell, Co Durham. Following their marriage, Robert and Ethel settled back in their home town of Crook, and it was there in West Road their two children were born, Joseph Robert in 1910, and Doris in 1914. By the start of WW1, Robert Franklin’s occupation was a ‘Stationary Engineman’.
Despite extensive research the only military records which remain for Robert William Franklin are his Medal Index Card and Informal Will. These documents have confirmed he enlisted in Bishop Auckland, joining the Durham Light Infantry as Private 3466, most likely the 6th reserve battalion.
By November 1916, Robert was serving as a Private with the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, Service No. 35364 and situated on the front line in The Quarries, a system of trenches located north of the Vermelles/Hulluch road.
According to the Regimental War Diaries trench mortars fired by the enemy on the 20th and 21st caused damage to the wires, particularly in the G12.1, G.12.2 – the Devon and Dudley Lane trenches, with an added comment for the 21st stating “there are indications that the enemy intends to raid our trenches so special precautions are being taken”.
An Appendix to the 13th Battalion November War Diary confirms that “on the evening of 21st/22nd, Dudley Lane trench sustained heavy bombardment during the hours of 1.30am to 4.30am, during which the enemy entered the trench leaving 4 killed, 1 wounded and 25 missing, presumably taken prisoners”. The note goes on to add that “although arrangements had been made, unfortunately these were to no avail as the pre-arranged signal from the front line was never sent.”
The 4 men of the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who were killed in action that night were Privates Robert William Franklin age 28, Sydney Scaife age 26, John William Tomlinson age 27, and John James Blight age 24. All 4 are buried side by side in Plot 5, Row G, Grave Nos. 28-31 in Vermelles British Cemetery, a village located between Bethune and Lens, Pas de Calais, France.
The citation for Robert reads “son of Joseph and the late Mary Jane Franklin of 4 Morson’s Avenue, Crook, Co Durham”, with his death being posted in the St George’s Gazette on 30th April 1917.
Robert William Franklin is remembered at Crook on C121.03 and C121.04
