Pte 28387 Harold Franson

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 6 S LANCS REGT
• Died on Sunday 16th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Basra Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 23

Harold Franson was born in Liverpool on 11th January 1895, the son of George Franson and his wife Margaret (née Fox) who were married on the 29th December 1884 at Holy Trinity Church, Toxteth Park. George was from St John’s, Jamaica (born at sea) and on the marriage record was a 27 year old sail maker of Park Lane, father George a fisherman, whilst Margaret was aged 20 also of Park Lane, father Isaac a joiner. He had older siblings Charles and Emily, but none of them seem to have birth records.    

On the 1891 Census the family are recorded as Fransen at 16a Lowndes Street, Tuebrook. His father, George, is aged 33, a labourer in a sugar house, born in St John’s, West Indies, mother Margaret is aged 25, born in Liverpool, son Charles is aged 7, born in Liverpool. They also have a boarder James Coyne 29.     

His brother Charles, aged 11, was confirmed (as Fransen) on the 30th September 1894 at Sacred Heart Church, Kensington.    

His mother died aged 30 in July 1895 and was buried on the 09th at Ford Cemetery, her address at the time was 9 Moon Street.   

His father remarried to Agnes Goldie on the 09th February 1896 at St Nicholas' Church, Liverpool. George was a 37 year old sail maker of 166 Park Lane, father George a master mariner deceased, whilst Agnes was aged 27 of 274 Great Howard St, father Thomas deceased.  

 On the 1901 Census the family have moved across the water to 132 New Chester Road, Birkenhead. His father, George, is aged 43, a ships rigger, step-mother Agnes is aged 33, born in Liverpool, children Emily 11, and Harold 5. They also have two boarders Richard Simmons 65 and George Johnston 25.      

On the 1911 Census the family are still at 132 New Chester Road. His father, George, is aged 53, a ships rigger, step-mother Agnes is aged 43, children Emily 21 a confectioner, and Harold 15, a bread shop boy. 

Harold was educated at Mersey Council School, Birkenhead.    

He enlisted in Liverpool on the 20th July 1915 as Private 30842, joining the 18th Battalion, of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 20 years and occupation as a waiter. He was described as being 5’ 11” in height, weighed 127lbs, with a 34" chest.     

His service records show:-     

20.07.15 - posted to 18/KLR at 89th Brigade Depot, Liverpool.     

05.05.16 - posted 3rd Btn. South Lancs (Prince of Wales Volunteers) with regimental number 28387.     

21.05.16 - transferred to 6th Btn. South Lancs.     

22.05.16 - Embarked at Devonport for Mesopotamia.   

13.06.16 - Disembarked Busra (now Basra, Iraq).   

07.07.16 - Joined Btn. for duty at SHEIKH SA’AD. 

There is a strong possibility he went sick going up river from Basra, went straight off the river steamer into the Field Ambulance at Sheikh Sa’ad and never really “joined” his battalion. Harold died from heat stroke on 16th July 1916 at the 40th Field Ambulance.  

The newspapers pick up on the conditions there:- 

The Liverpool Evening Express on Thursday 20 July 1916: 

120 IN THE SHADE. 

HEAT EXCESSIVE IH MESOPOTAMIA. 

BRITISH OFFICIAL.  

The secretary of the War Office made the following announcement this afternoon. Since the last communique was issued on the 13th inst. there have been no occurrences of interest reported from Mesopotamia. Owing to the failure of the shimal the heat is excessive. For some days the shade temperature has been over 120 degrees(49c). 

["shimal" is a the passage of a cold front, which is the leading edge of a cold air mass.] 

The Surrey Advertiser reported on Wednesday 30 August 1916:  

DIED IN MESOPOTAMIA.   

Twenty-Two Deaths from Illness In The Queen’s.   

Diseases due to the climate have been responsible for a number of deaths among The Queen’s in Mesopotamia, especially, we gather, among the more recent arrivals, who were not so used to the heat, and to the precautions necessary to preserve good health. Twenty-three deaths occurred between June 13th and July 13th, eleven from cholera, three from heatstroke, one accidental drowning, and the remainder from various diseases.  

Pte. 28341 Alexander Coupe, 6th South Lancashire Regt (formerly 24950 of the 18th Pals), 45 Northcote-road, Walton, similarly died from the effects of heat a few days earlier on the 11th July.  

Pte. 28291 William Wynn Hunter, 6th South Lancashire Regt (formerly 31517 of the 21st Pals), Tarbock Road, Huyton, died of acute enteritis also on the 11th. 

Harold is commorated on the Basra Memorial:

Until 1997 the Basra Memorial was located on the main quay of the naval dockyard at Maqil, on the west bank of the Shatt-al-Arab, about 8 kilometres north of Basra. Because of the sensitivity of the site, the Memorial was moved by presidential decree. The move, carried out by the authorities in Iraq, involved a considerable amount of manpower, transport costs and sheer engineering on their part, and the Memorial has been re-erected in its entirety. The Basra Memorial is now located 32 kilometres along the road to Nasiriyah, in the middle of what was a major battleground during the first Gulf War. Casualties are listed under the regiment they served with in rank order. The Panel Numbers quoted refer to the initial panel dedicated to the Regiment. If a further panel is quoted, this refers to the Prisoners of War panels.

Harold's death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 20 September 1916: 

DIED. 

South Lancashire Regiment – Coupe, 28341 A.; Doherty, 2394, G. (St Helens enlst.); Franson, 28387, H. (Birkenhead); Hunter, 28291, W. W. (Huyton); Tomlinson, 11397, W.; 

A comrade wrote:- “Everyone says what a fine, promising soldier he was; for my part I have always found him a good, willing and clean living soldier. He was, in fact, everything appertaining to the word Christian, and I shall never forget him.” [De Ruvigny Roll] 

His family placed notices on then first anniversary of his death, one implies brother Charles had died:- 

Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 16 July 1917:  

FRANSON - In sad but loving memory of our beloved son, Signaller Harold Franson, aged 21 years, of the South Lancashire Regiment (formerly Pals), who died on active service in Mesopotamia, July 16, 1916.   

(His Duty nobly done. Too dearly loved ever to be forgotten by father and mother.) - 132 New Chester Road, Tranmere.  

FRANSON - In loving memory of my dear only brother Signaller Harold Franson, who died on active service in Mesopotamia, July 16, 1916, aged 21 years.   

In a far off grave my dear brother does lie,  

With none of us near him to bid him good-bye; 

But the Angels of Heaven are guarding his soul  

Till we meet him again at the call of the roll. 

His only sister, Emily McGuinnity, 132 New Chester Road, Tranmere.  

His sister paid tribute to both her husband Charlie and Hrold in the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday 04 September 1917: 

McGUINNITY - In loving memory of my dear husband, Charlie, who lost his life on the R.M.S. Hesperian, torpedoed September 4, 1915; also my dear only brother, Signaller Harold Franson, who died on active service in Mesopotamia, July 16, 1916 “In the midst of life we are in death.” - Emily McGuinnity, 132 New Chester Road, Tranmere.  

The family placed notices on the second anniversary of his death:- 

Liverpool Daily Post - Tuesday 16 July 1918: 

ROLL OF HONOUR. 

IN MEMORIAM. 

FRANSON - In sad but loving memory of our beloved son, Signaller Harold Franson, aged 21 years, of the South Lancashire Regt., formerly of the Pals, who died on active service in Mesopotamia, July 16, 1916.    

(His Duty nobly done. Too dearly loved ever to be forgotten by father and mother.) - 132 New Chester Road, Tranmere.   

 FRANSON, McGUINNITY - In loving memory of my dear only brother Signaller Harold Franson, who died on active service in Mesopotamia, July 16, 1916, aged 21 years; also of my dear husband, Charlie, who was lost on the R.M.S. Hesperian, torpedoed September 4, 1915. - Dearly loved and sadly missed by Emily McGuinnity, 132 New Chester Road, Tranmere. 

Harold's name is commemorated on the Basra Memorial. 

During the First World War, Basra was occupied by the 6th (Poona) Division in November 1914, from which date the town became the base of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. A number of cemeteries were used by the MEF in and around Basra; Makina Masus Old Cemetery was used from December 1914 to October 1916 and the Makina Masus New Extension was begun alongside the old cemetery in August 1917. These two sites formed the basis of the war cemetery. The site was significantly enlarged after the war when over 1000 graves were brought in from the following sites:- Ahwaz (Iran), Hakimiya, Maqil, Mohammerah, Nasiriya, Qurna, Shaiba and Tanooma. 

The cemetery now contains 2,560 burials of the First World War, of which 76 are unidentified and 10 are non-commonwealth casualties (mostly Russian refugees). In addition, 6 casualties whose graves could not be found during the reburial phase were commemorated on special memorial headstones. However, in 1935 it was decided to remove all the headstones as the salty soil had caused them to substantially deteriorate. Instead, all the Commonwealth casualties were commemorated on a Memorial Screen Wall which was built in the same year. 

The cemetery also contains the Basra (Tanooma Chinese) Memorial, commemorating 227 unidentified Singaporean Chinese casualties who were attached to the Inland Water Transport during the First World War. A panel in their memory was added to the screen wall when it became evident that their graves in Tanooma Chinese Cemetery could no longer be maintained.]    

His step-mother Agnes received his two medals, Memorial Plaque and Scroll, Soldiers Effects, War Gratuity and Pension of 12/- pw.  His identity disc and a few photographs were also returned.  

On the 1921 census his parents are still living at 132 New Chester Road, George is aged 60, born at sea, and a night watchman for Grayson Ship Builders, He died aged 73 in 1930. 

His step-mother died aged 73 in 1941. 

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Thursday 16 January 1941: 

FRANSON - Jan. 14, at her residence, 6 Rosalind Avenue, Bebington, AGNES, wife of the late George Franson, and very dear Mother of Emily. Funeral at Bebington Cemetery, to-morrow (Friday), at 2 p.m. (Nonconformist.) Friends please accept this—the only—intimation. 

We currently have no further information on Harold Franson, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.