Franks George James 1899

George James Franks
1899-1972

Father Nm: George Lee Franks born 23 May 1869 Islington, Middlesex died Mar 1917 Islington, Middlesex

Mother Nm: Elizabeth Henley born 1871 Islington, Middlesex

Marriage Dt: 22.12.1922 Deptford

K comments:
Spouse comments: Florence Ellen Blencowe [6777] born 20.1.1903 Rotherhithe St Olaves died 22.6.1988 Greenwich  Children.

Born 1899

Born 29 October 1899 Islington

1911 CENSUS

14 Nailour St Islington

Elizabeth Franks
Head
 Married Female 38 1873 Ironer London Islington
Elizabeth Franks
Daughter
 Single Female 17 1894 Packer London Islington
Alice Franks
Daughter
 Single Female 14 1897 Packer London Islington
George Franks
Son
 Single Male 11 1900 – London Islington
WW1

George James Franks 1899, Private, 60059, 5th Bn. London Regiment

Synopsis

George enlisting in February may well have not served overseas, he has no medal index card which suggests this to be the case

1918
  • 25 February. Attested with the 5th Bn London Regiment this was part of 169th Bde. 56th (London) Division

For completeness and just in case George did go overseas, I have listed the activities of the 56th Division in 1918,

The First Battle of Arras (28 March)~
~ the battles marked ~ are phases of the First Battles of the Somme 1918

The Battle of Albert (23 August)#
# the battles marked # are phases of the Second Battles of the Somme 1918

The Battle of the Scarpe (26 – 30 August)+
+ the battles marked + are phases of the Second Battles of Arras 1918

The Battle of the Canal du Nord (27 September – 1 October)”
The Battle of the Cambrai (8 – 9 October)”
” the battles marked ” are phases of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line

The pursuit to the Selle (9 – 12 October)*
The Battle of the Sambre (4 November)*
The passage of the Grand Honelle ( 5 – 7 November)*
* the battles marked * are phases of the Final Advance in Picardy

By the end of 10 November the Division had been withdrawn for rest, although the artillery was still in action up to the Armistice at 11am on 11 November. The forward infantry was on that date at Harveng.

The Division received orders to join the British force that would advance across Belgium and move into Germany to occupy the Rhine bridgeheads. These orders were cancelled on 21 November, at which time the Division was employed on road and railway repair work in the area of Harveng.

In all, the Division existed as such for 1010 days during the Great War; it spent 330 days at rest, 195 in quiet sectors, 385 in active sectors and 100 days in battle.

Demobilisation began and he final cadres left for home on 18 May 1919. The Division reformed as part of the Territorial Army in April 1920.

1919
Medals

No medal card found

Sources
    1. Ancestry  and BFA database
    2. National Archives Service record
After the War
1921 Census

135 Edward St Depford

Living with his mother

Elizabeth Franks Head Female 1872 49 Islington, London, England Domestic Servant Private
George Franks Son Male 1899 21 Islington, London, England Asphalte Labourer A C W Hobman & Co (Out Of Work)
Harold Franks Lodger Male 1874 47 Deptford, London, England Painter Griggs & Co
Henry Franks Son Male 1905 16 Deptford, London, England Messenger

1939 Census

39c Lewisham George Shopfitter travelling b 29.10.1899

Elizabeth Franks
Head
 Female 1872 49 Islington, London, England Domestic Servant Private
George Franks
Son
 Male 1899 21 Islington, London, England Asphalter Labourer A C W Hobman & Co (Out Of Work)
Harold Franks
Lodger
 Male 1874 47 Deptford, London, England Painter Griggs & Co
Henry Franks
Son
 Male 1905 16 Deptford, London, England Messenger Charles Morgan Eng
Death

1972 Bromley, Kent

Gallery
First Name:
George James
Surname:
Franks
Remarks:
60059 number noted on source.
Marital Status:
Single
Attestation Date:
25/02/1918
Medical Category:
A
Next Of Kin Address:
135 Edward St Deptford
Primary Unit:
London Regiment
Secondary Unit:
5th Battalion (Why is this important?)
Archive Reference:
SHC_2496_28
Gallery