Rifleman Franklin Garfield Fruin, MM

Franklin and his twin brother Francis served in WW1, both won the Military Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty.

MEDALS AND AWARDS

• Military Medal (MM)
• MM. L.G. 11 February 1919, p2144, Rec No 2523. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Gouzeaucourt. In the attack on September 9th, 1918, he organised a Bombing Party and worked along African Support Trench, capturing two machine guns and 16 prisoners, besides inflicting severe casualties on the enemy. To ascertain the strength of the garrison in African Trench he himself led another Bombing Party and worked up the Trench. He again inflicted casualties on the enemy, but was forced to retire owing to superior numbers. He,however, established a block in the trench thus preventing the enemy from rushing our garrison. He subsequently led another party and established a block in African Support. In the attack on September 12th, this N.C.O. acted as first bayonet man. This duty he performed very ably until badly wounded by an enemy bomb. his example was a gerat incentive to many new men in his Platoon.

Links:

• Cenotaph Record
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record
• New Zealand War Graves Project