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221954 L/Cpl. Harold Thomas Franklin British Army Welch Regiment from:Cardiff Like many returned service men, my grandfather, Hal Franklin rarely shared any kind of stories, even with his wife, let alone his daughters and grandchildren. But our family folklore is that Harold Thomas Franklin, born and raised in Cardiff to William and Lottie Franklin, faked his identity in order to get into the Army under-age. I am unaware in which Battalion he served, but the lore says that he was sent to India initially. One of the few stories that I was told as a child was that my grandfather "Hal" (as he was known) was quite a larrikin, promoted for acts of bravery at times, and then promptly demoted again for giving some kind of cheek to a officer. In India, he and a mate, who had been on rec leave and had enjoyed too many drinks that night, were staggering back to the base when they heard a tiger growl. Scared out of their wits, the pair apparently shimmied up the first tree they could find, hanging on for dear life. As the dawn approached and they were able to better see, they discovered they had wandered into the zoo.
I have old photos that are indication Hal travelled through the Middle East at some time - likely coming through Egypt.
We know that with the outbreak of WW2, he wound up in central Europe and was captured only a few months into the war. He spent the rest of the war trying valiantly to escape various POW camps. He was imprisoned at one time in Stalag VIII-B/334 and quite possibly later in Colditz Castle, although this again is folklore and I as yet have no evidence of this.
One story which is very well known is that Hal at one time was asked to change identities with an officer while in POW camp. Apparently, the officer wanted access to the work groups that were frequently sent outside of the camps. Hal agreed to this and wrote home to his fiancé Frances (later his wife) that she should no longer refer to him as "Harold" but write to him by a different name. The family home in England and Wales became very concerned that Hal was losing his grip on sanity.
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I know that he was somehow released home, back to England, before the end of the War. He was very unwell, physically and psychology, like many young men just like him. At one time, we know that he was told should he attempt to escape again, he would be handed over to the Gestapo and shot. He was injured in the back when he was struck by a German soldier with the butt of a rifle as he climbed into a truck to be taken back to POW camp. He was recaptured at a train station when a German soldier had asked him (in German) if he had a light for a cigarette.
These stories are part of our family. We are never sure of their accuracy, but like most lore, there is probably a large thread of truth woven through a degree of embellishment. I would be delighted and grateful if there is anyone who can confirm or add anything to our stories of Harold Franklin. |
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