FRANKLIN, Reginald Norris
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Surbiton, Surrey, England, 18 April 1883 |
| Home Town: | Lismore, Lismore Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Borlase School Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire England |
| Occupation: | Bank Staff |
| Died: | Illness, 4th Australian General Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, 6 July 1919, aged 36 years |
| Cemetery: |
Waverley Cemetery, Bronte, New South Wales Gen. 21. 4101. |
| Memorials: | Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour Book |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Major, Officer, Camel Corps | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Apr 1918: | Involvement Major, Camel Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Port Darwin embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 30 Apr 1918: | Embarked Major, Camel Corps, SS Port Darwin, Sydney | |
| 6 Jul 1919: | Involvement Major, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Major awm_died_date: 1919-07-06 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
REGINALD NORRIS FRANKLIN, son of Mr. Samuel and Mrs. Julia Reed Franklin, of London, was born in Surbiton, Surrey, on 18th April, 1883. He was educated at the Borlase School, Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and joined the service of the Bank at Casino, New South Wales, on 11th August, 1901. His subsequent transfers were to Kyogle, in 1904; Bangalow, in 1906; Lismore and Dunoon, 1911; and again to Lismore in 1912.
He enlisted a month after the outbreak of war, and went away as lieutenant in charge of the 1st Reinforcements of the 2nd Light Horse, taking part in the Gallipoli Campaign. He was eventually invalided to England, and acted as adjutant in the Weymouth Camp. He rejoined his regiment in the Jordan Valley, Palestine, in 1916, and was awarded the D.S.O. for gallant service at Tel-el-saba.
The following is the official record of his work on this occasion:—
‘‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great coolness and determination in handling his squadron under heavy fire. At a critical period, when the commanding officer of his regiment had become a casualty, he took command and, though twice wounded, he continued to lead his men and set a magnificent example of courage and resource.”
After the Armistice Major Franklin devoted his time to organizing entertainments throughout Palestine for the troops. He was invalided to Australia in March, 1919, and died at Randwick Hospital on 6th July of that year, after an operation which was due to trouble brought on by the hardships of service.
Source - Bank of NSW Roll of Honour
Major Reginald Norris Franklin, D.S.O., died at the Randwick (N.S.W.) Military Hospital last week after an operation. He was on the staff of the Bank of New South Wales at Lismore (N.S.W.) when war broke out, and at once enlisted. He saw four and a half years' service, save for a short furlough to Australia, during which he was married. He was invalided to Australia several months ago, and contracted small pox in Colombo on the voyage out. Major Franklin, who leaves a widow and infant daughter, was the elder brother of Lieutenant R. P. Franklin, head master of the Melbourne Grammar School.
Distinguished Service Order
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great coolness and determination in handling his squadron under heavy fire. At a critical period, when the commanding officer of the regiment had become a casualty, he took command, and though twice wounded, he continued to lead his men and set a magnificent example of courage and resource.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 150
Date: 24 September 1918
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