Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Outstanding ‘El-Teb’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Colour Sergeant A. Franklyn, York and Lancaster Regiment, for saving the life of his commanding officer Colonel R. Dalgety during the storming of a fortified house. Franklyn, who claimed he accounted for 11 killed in the action, was presented with his D.C.M. by Queen Victoria. Her Majesty noted in her Journal ‘gave a Distinguished Conduct Medal to Lance Sergeant Franklyn, for most gallant conduct at El-Teb, for which I consider he ought to have received the Victoria Cross’

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (1624, Lce. Sgt. A. Franklyn, 1/Y & Lanc: R: (29th Feb: 1884)); Afghanistan 1878-803 clasps, Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul (1624. Sergt. A. Franklyn. 65th Foot.) edge cut; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, El-Teb-Tamaai (1624 Lce. Sergt. A. Franklyn. 1/York & Lanc R:); Khedive’s Star 1884, reverse neatly and contemporarily impressed ‘1624 Lce. Sergt. A. Franklyn 1st Y & L.’, contact marks, nearly very fine or better (4)
£5000-6000

Provenance: Spink, November 2000.

D.C.M. awarded for the battle of El-Teb, 29 February 1884. Recommendation submitted to the Queen, 15 October 1884, which was made by Colonel Dalgety, 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, is extant and is as follows:

‘Battle of El-Teb on the 29th February last... When the left of our Regiment and the right of the Royal Highlanders were temporarily checked in front of the brick house and the boiler, I called for volunteers to enter and capture the brick house with me. Sergeant Franklyn was the first to step forward and some 4 or 5 other men then followed. We made a rush for the door of the house on the far side from us, an act which was attended with great danger, not only from the fire of the enemy inside, but also from the cross-fire of the Royal Highlanders who had wheeled their left up and were firing at the house. I succeeded in reaching the door and rushed in, but was instantly seized by the collar and dragged back by Sergeant Franklyn, whose hand was pierced by a spear in so doing, for a Soudani having concealed himself behind the door, with his spear raised, had struck at my throat as I entered. Had Sergeant Franklyn not seen him and dragged me back, receiving the spear in his hand, it would certainly have pierced my throat, and he therefore undoubtedly saved my life. He shot the man who wounded him, and we then together entered the building, followed by the other men, and after some hard fighting succeeded in placing hors de combat as many of the enemy as remained alive (I should say about 20), of whom Sergeant Franklyn states he killed 11; the exact number I cannot vouch for but I saw him laying about him in splendid style and most pluckily. The whole company when asked at Tokar whom they would recommend unanimously declared Sergeant Franklyn’s conduct to be the most deserving of recognition of any man’s in the company, and in this I should myself concur.’

Albert Franklyn was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire, and attested for the 65th Foot at Westminster, 24 December 1868. He was promoted Corporal, September 1875, and was one of the few men of the Regiment to serve on lines of communication signals duties in Afghanistan, November 1878 - January 1880.

As part of the Cardwell reforms of 1881, the 65th were redesignated the 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. Franklyn served with distinction at the battle of El-Teb, 29 February 1884, and in particular when storming the brick house and boiler with Colonel Dalgety, ‘in front of the village [El-Teb] was a large brick building, near which lay a huge iron boiler, and all round were innumerable rifle-pits from which a continuous rifle fire was kept up by the Arabs. As the line advanced an immense horde of Arabs, armed with spears and double-edged swords, rushed out of the village, from the rife-pits, and from the brick building, and with a terrific yell, charged down upon our line, which at once opened fire on them, killing several hundreds. Yet such was the impetuosity of their charge, that hundreds of them reached the line, spearing our men, many even getting through the ranks and attacking those in the rear. As the line continued to advance, constant charges were made by others of the enemy hidden in low jungle around the village, who came on quite fearless, in spite of the numbers who fell as they charged. Many hand to hand encounters took place along the line, our men using the bayonet freely. A large number of men received spear-wounds from wounded Arabs, who threw their spears whilst lying on the ground.’ (Memoirs of the 65th Regiment, refers)

It was into the above maelstrom that Dalgety and Franklyn proceeded, and after two hours heavy fighting the village was captured. On the latter date and again on the 13th March at Tamaai, where the square was broken, the Battalion were involved in much hand to hand fighting against hoards of fanatical dervishes. The Battalion suffered 38 men killed and wounded.

On 26 November 1884 Franklyn attended Windsor Castle where he was presented with the D.C.M. by Queen Victoria. In her journal, Queen Victoria noted that she ‘gave a Distinguished Conduct Medal to Lance Sergeant Franklyn, for most gallant conduct at El-Teb, for which I consider he ought to have received the Victoria Cross.’

Her Majesty’s feelings were made known to the War Office by her Private Secretary (Sir Henry Ponsonby) on the day of the presentation. A reply was sent the following day:

‘My Dear Ponsonby,
With reference to your note and its concluding piece in which you say “H.M. asked why Sergt. Franklyn did not get the V.C.” The answer is that he was never recommended for that distinction and that is an essential part of the play.’

Franklyn was advanced to Colour Sergeant in December 1887, and was awarded the Army L.S. & G.C. in October 1889. He was discharged 3 January 1892, after 23 years and 9 days’ service with the Colours. In later life he resided at ‘50 Arthur Street, Sheffield’, and celebrated the 10th Anniversary of Tamaai dining with other veterans at the Pheasant Inn, Sheffield, 13 March 1894. Franklyn died in March 1900, and was buried at Burngreave Cemetery.