| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information
Joseph Franklin was born in Beverley in April 1899, one of nine children and the eldest son of Frederick and Hannah Elizabeth Franklin (nee Castle) They married in 1883. Joseph was brought up on Sloe Lane and later 11 Wilbert Terrace.
Joseph joined the regular army on 29 Nov 1905 at Victoria Barracks, Beverley. He joined the 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment and was to serve as a private and then briefly as a lance-corporal in 1910-11. The 2nd were stationed in India at this time and it was there that Joseph started to become ill. He suffered from epilepsy but army doctors had difficulty in diagnosing his condition until 1913. He returned to the UK and was discharged from the army in April 1914. From 10 May 1915 until 7 July 1915 Joseph was employed as an attendant (male nurse) at the Broadgate Asylum, Walkington.
In early July 1915 Joseph rejoined the army, as a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), 4th Company. During his training his epilepsy returned and he was hospitalised. On 4 Aug 1916 he was once again discharged from the army as medically unfit. He was awarded a small pension and received the customary Silver Badge given to those unable to continue in the army. As he had not served abroad however, he was not eligible for the War and Victory Medals.
On 30 Mar 1918 Joseph married Beatrice Alice Welburn at Beverley Minster. Beatrice was born 1898. They had seven children, the first, Charles Donald, born in Dec 1918. The family later lived at 6 Chantry Lane, near the tannery.
Joseph died in Beverley August 1936 at the age of 49, he was buried in Queensgate Cemetery the 19 Aug 1936.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |