(20 June 1893- 12 Oct. 1976), soldier. (W.J. Franklin, John Franklin, Col. Franklin, William John Franklin, MC, VD, CD) Born at Pendleton, Ont. Parents: Benjamin Franklin and his wife Pauline (Polly) Clarke. The family moved to the Laggan area when he was a youngster. Before 1914 he spent winters in shanty and went on a harvest excursion to Saskatchewan. He was early involved with the local militia, and joined “C” company of the 59th Regiment in June 1909. (Glengarry News 29 April 1932) He was a sergeant with the 59th Regiment before WWI. (GN 7 Feb. 1913) During that war he served overseas with the 154th battalion. He was wounded 27 Sept. 1918. He received the Military Cross for gallantry in action, and had the rank of captain by the end of the war. Afterwards, he was a government employee in Ottawa but maintained strong connections with the GC area militia.

     In 1924 he was promoted to command the Glengarry company of the 154th SDG Highlanders and advanced to the rank of major. (Glengarry News 20 June & 12 Dec. 1924) In 1932 he was appointed commanding officer of the SDG Highlanders. (GN 29 April 1932) As commanding officer he held the rank of colonel. He resigned in 1934 but took command of the 2nd Reserve Battalion. (GN 16 Nov. 1934) Col. Franklin was one of the Glengarrians who received the Jubilee Medal of 1935 marking the 25th anniversary of the coronation of George V. (GN 10 May 1935) In World War II he was recruiting officer in Eastern Ontario, and was colonel of the SDG Highlanders 1st Battalion 1940, and 2nd Battalion 1940-1945.

     In August 1945 he was appointed sergeant-at-arms for the House of Commons. The announcement of the appointment was made in Alexandria by Prime Minister Mackenzie King. (Glengarry News 31 Aug. 1945) Franklin held this position till May 1960. In 1949 he opened the Highland Games at Maxville. This was the second time the Highland Games of the modern series had been held; the previous year they were opened by Mackenzie King. Franklin was honorary lt.-col. of the SD&G Highlanders 1956-1961 and honorary colonel from 1961-1974. He died at Ottawa. Burial was at Beechwood Cemetery. He was married to Katherine Bartram.

     Marion MacMaster called him as “a cultured and sophisticated gentleman.” Material from a history of the SD&G Regiment which he prepared for regimental use saw newspaper publication in 1944. (Standard Freeholder 26 June 1944) He was one of the people who helped prepare the 40-page booklet called Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders: a Brief History: 1784-1945: Presented to Members of the First Battalion upon Their Return from Overseas (1945). He was a member of “The Regimental Historical Committee” of 19 members appointed in connection with the preparation of Col. Boss’s 1952 history of the SDG Regiment. Franklin contributed a few pages of “Anecdotes from Military Life” to the 10th Annual Volume (1970-1971) of the Glengarry Historical Society. He edited his World War I diary for family use. Marion MacMaster reprints a few passages in her sketch of his life. In one passage he wrote, “Late in October 1918 I was among several hundred officers and nurses called to Buckingham Palace for the investiture of the Military Cross by King George V… HM actually shook hands with me.” W.J. Franklin’s brothers Arthur and Harry were well-known farmers in the Laggan area. Harry was also one of two or three Glengarrians of his time widely known for their zeal and expertise as hunters. W.J. Franklin’s sister Margaret (Mrs Charles N. Power) was a nursing sister overseas in World War II. Marion MacMaster was married to W.J. Franklin’s nephew.

     For another sergeant-at-arms, see Donald William Macdonell.

Glengarry News 21 Oct. 1976 * Marion MacMaster, St. Columba Men in Three Wars (1990), with portrait * many refs. over the years in GC-area press to this well known Glengarrian * Boss 77, 80-81, 200, &c. (portrait) * MacGillivray & Ross 535 (portrait) * encourages Highland piping, MacPhee 21, 41 * article (repr. from Montreal Standard’s “Man of the Week” ser.) on Franklin, Standard Freeholder 22 June 1948 (illustr.) * obituaries of his brothers George Albert, Harry and Arthur, all of Laggan, and Alexander, of Rosetown, Sask., Glengarry News 2 Jan. 1942, 16 May 1990, 16 Nov. 1994, & 20 March 1990 * Peter Conway, “Harry’s Hunt: at 87, This Sportsman Shows No Sign of Tiring,” GN 9 Dec. 1987 (on Harry Franklin, portrait) * life of nursing sister Margaret Franklin in Marion MacMaster, The Honour Roll of World War II (1988), portrait * MacMillan, Kenyon Presbyterian Church, 87 * typescript history of the SDG Highlanders (17pp. foolscap), compiled by Lt. Col. W.J. Franklin, May 1942, for “Regimental use,” in circulation 1977 * attends unveiling of honour roll of Jewish soldiers, Beth-El Synagogue, Cornwall, Standard Freeholder 18 Feb. 1943