I came across Ernest's medals, Scroll of Honour, Commemorative plaque (dead man's penny) and the letters informing his father of is death and his burial place, when I cleared the house of a elderly neighbour. There was also a photo of him at the front; a lovely one of him in his uniform and some postcards from his sweetheart. These had all been lovingly looked after by his younger sister and then his niece. Not knowing anything about him I set out to find what I could. His army record was sadly one of those destroyed in WW2 but I went to the RE Museum and read the war diaries of the 26th Field regiment and discovered what had lead to his death from wounds received in action. Ernest was one of 8 sappers, along with 2nd Cpl Edwards detached to the 2nd Royal Sussex to lay charges in German trenches. Sadly he was hit by the covering heavy barrage and though brought back to the British lines he died the next day. He is actually mentioned by name in the diary entry for 20/21st July 1918 "We had three men wounded in this raid, all of them were brought safely in. Unfortunately one of them (Spr Franks) died in the C.C.S. 2nd Cpl Edwards was subsequently awarded the Military Medal" Since men in the ranks were rarely mentioned by name in these war diaries, I like to think that the commanding officer thought well of Ernest.

Elaine Gardner