Old grave stone

Subject: Old grave stone Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:43 am

Found this rather neglected grave stone at Helpmakaar.
Anyone like to flesh out the details?
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I had to take the photo at an angle to get a shadow on the lettering.

Cheers

Subject: Old Grave Stone Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:54 am

Hi Springy
I'm not home so I dont have access to Holme's book , but from the Forsyth Medal Roll of the 2 / 24th , I found one Franklin ,
he is listed as ; 2nd Lt R.W.Franklin Died On Service 20 / 2 / 79 Medal with Clasp 1879 . This seems to be your man as the date matches ! Salute

Cheers 90th

Subject: Re: Old grave stone Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:02 am

Hi 90th
That's the bits on the grave, hoping one of the members can put some meat on the bones. He seems to have died at Helpmakaar as did quite a few of the Carbineers all around the same date. Ive got photos of the rest of the graves but the internet here is pretty primitive, took around 30 minutes to down load that photo.

When Im back in CT I will get some advice on how to reduce the size of the videos Ive shot on the Fugitives trail and the Drift, that water is really boiling down at the moment.

Cheers

Subject: Old Grave Stone Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:07 am

Hi Springy .
There will be a bit more detail in Holme's book , but quite a lot more in Mack & Shad . I'm not home so cant help with anymore details . Mack and Shad will also have a photo of Franklin along with a bio . agree

Cheers 90th

Subject: Re: Old grave stone Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:13 am

Springy,

If you go down to the Warrior's Gate in Durban, they have some of his uniform on display.

There's also his full-dress uniform at Brecon.

John Y.

Subject: Old Grave Stone Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:27 am

Hi JY.
Are there many AZW items at the Warrior Gate Museum ? Salute

Cheers 90th

Posts : 232 Join date : 2011-10-18

Lt. Franklin is also commemorated in Wigmore Church, Herefordshire.

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Regards,

Tim

Subject: Re: Old grave stone Sat Jan 04, 2014 2:24 pm

90th,

Yes it is worth a visit to see Harry Lugg's kit, and the iSandlwana debris, including rockets from the rocket battery.

They used to have a bits box that you could buy from as well.

I drop you an e-mail.

John Y.

Posts : 3178 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Lieutenant Franklin who died at Helpmakaar on the 20th February 1879, was the youngest son of Major General C T Franklin, C.B., late Royal Artillery. He was born on the 23rd of October 1859, and was educated at Cheltenham College. He entered Sandhurst in February 1878, and in the following May was gazetted to the 2nd Battalion of the 24th Regiment, which he joined shortly afterwards at the Cape.
In November 1878, Lieutenant Franklin proceeded with his Regiment to Natal, to join the force being prepared to act against the Zulus in the event of their refusing to comply with the terms of Sir Bartle Frere’s ultimatum. He took part in the subsequent advance of Colonel Glyn’s Column into the enemy’s country in January 1879, and was present at the storming of Sirayo’s stronghold in the Bashee Valley. On the morning of the 22nd he was absent from Isandhlwana with the main body of the column under Lord Chelmsford, on the return of the force to the devastated camp on the evening of the same day, he ‘led the company,’ to use the words of his Captain, ‘as steadily as if he had been an old soldier, although an attack was momentarily expected, and few hoped to save their lives.’ A fortnight later Lieutenant Franklin was attacked with fever: He was removed to Helpmakaar, in the hope that change and purer atmosphere might restore him; but his strength had been too severely tried by the hardships and fatigue of the proceeding weeks, and on the night of 20th February he passed peacefully away. Though not dying in the field of battle, Lieutenant Franklin none the less gave up his life in the service of his country. After his death his Colonel wrote a letter very strongly in his praise, assuring his father that he possessed all the qualities likely to form a fine soldier, and ending with the words, ‘Your boy was everything I could possibly desire.’ With all his brother officers he was a favourite, and the men of his company had become fond of him, in spite of his shortness of the time he had been with them.
Before his death, which occurred within nine months of his being gazetted to his regiment, Lieutenant Franklin had no less than twenty Subalterns below him - and instance of promotion the rapidity of which would seem to be unique.
From Mac & Shad