When clearing the house of an elderly neighbour I cam across the medals, commemorative scroll and plaque (dead man's penny) belonging to Sapper Ernest Franks. There was also a box containing the letters informing his father of his death from wounds received in action, the place of his burial, some photos and a couple of postcards from his sweetheart. These had all be lovingly kept by his younger sister then his niece. Not knowing who he was I set out to discover what I could. Ernest's army record was sadly one of those that was destroyed in the blitz during WW2, but I went to the RE Museum library and was able to read the War Diaries for the 26th Coy RE and found the diary entry for July 20/21st when Ernest was in the action that lead to his death. He, along with 7 other sappers and 2nd Cpl Edwards were detached to the 2nd Sussex regiment to lay charges in the German trenches. Sadly he was caught in the heavy barrage and was so badly wounded that he died the next day at the casualty clearing station. He is actually mentioned in the War Diary by name; very rare for someone in the ranks. The Diary entry reads......... "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." I like to think that the Commanding Officer thought well of Ernest to have mentioned him by name.

Elaine Gardner