Lance Corporal 9783 1st Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment
Died of wounds 25 October 1914 aged 21
Remembered on Ash War Memorial
Buried in Poperinge Old Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium

John Franks was the son of John and Marion Franks and was born in Aldershot in 1893. The 1901 census records him living at 5 Redan Gardens Aldershot with his mother and siblings. The family were living at 2 Finchley Villas in Ash Hill Road by 1907 when younger brother Albert Franks was admitted to Ash Common School.

The 1911 census records John as a Private in The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, and was in Sobraon Barracks, Circular Road, Colchester. His medals card records that he went to France 12 August 1914 and was awarded the 1914 Star. After his death, the Surrey Advertiser 26 November 1914 reported that he had been a well known athlete.

John Franks was included in the memorial leaflet for the memorial service at St Peter’s Church in 1915.