Private Charles Arthur Franks
Charles Franks was born in Port Dover on May 8, 1895, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Franks. He had two brothers and a sister. The family moved to Paris in 1910, and Charles worked at Penmans No. 1 mill as a knitter. He married Clara Rowe. They were members of St James Anglican Church in Paris.
Charles enlisted with the 125th Battalion in 1915 when he was 20 years old. He was a member of the 9th Platoon that embarked aboard the S.S Scandinavia on February 12, 1916. The 9th and 10th Platoons were the first contingent of soldiers from Paris, nearly 100 men, to go overseas. When he arrived in England, he was drafted to the 60th Infantry Battalion. He was killed in action on February 10, 1917 near Thelus, France. He is buried in the Ecoivres Military Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France. He left a young daughter and his wife Clara, who also lost a brother, Walter Rowe of Paris, who was killed in action six months earlier.