3230908 Pte. George Edward Franklin was born on June 17th, 1891, in Eastwood, Ontario. Growing up in Owen Sound he had served 2 years with the 31st Regiment the local Militia unit.
George had initially joined the 37th Battalion, where he went A.W.O.L for three days while undergoing training at Camp Niagara. Transferring to the 74th Battalion on November 25th, 1915, he was discharged on January 22nd, 1916, for some unknown reason. He re-enlisted in the 166th Battalion in March of 1916. Going A.W.O.L. again, George was discharged from that unit in August of the same year.
With the passing of the Military Service Act, George would be conscripted into the military once again in 1918. Unlike the previous enrollments George would complete his training and sail to England in March of 1918 aboard the S.S. Regina.
George was taken on strength of the 4th C.M.R. on July 3rd, 1918, and was sent to the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Company. Rejoining the unit on September 18th, he would take part in the Battle of Cambria, where he was wounded in the left leg on October 4th, 1918.
The wound was severe enough that George was evacuated through the medical system and wasn't discharged and struck off strength until July 26th, 1919.
Private George Edward Franklin would pass away at seventy-five years of age on December 17th, 1966, and was laid to rest in Owen Sound's Greenwood Cemetery, Ontario.
Credit and thanks for this biography go to George Auer.