Eminson, Clarence Franklin
Clarence in the sidecar; photo from his son Dr. Paul Eminson
C.F. EMINSON
Clarence Franklin Eminson MRCS, LRCP, DOMS ('Clarrie')
F1246 Petty Officer Mechanic, Royal Naval Armoured Service
Flight-Lieutenant, Royal Air Force
Born 24th May 1895 in Scotter
5th son of Thomas Benjamin Franklin (a Medical Practitioner from Scotter) and Clara (nee Burgess of Edenham)
Family lived at Gonerby House, High Street
Educated at Terra Nova School, Southport and Epsom College
Studying medicine at Charing Cross Hospital, London but outbreak of war interrupted his education
Kept a diary from which the following is extracted:-
Joined the 9a Division on 7th November 1914; paid 120 shillings per month
Went out to Alexandria, Egypt on board a troop carrier
On 15th August 1915 embarked on the ‘SS Osmanich’ with 4 Ford vehicles
Arrived at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli the next day at 12:45pm ‘shells all about’
Next 2 to 3 months spent time in the trenches, built dugouts for new positions, cleaned the guns, brought up ammunition and stores to the trenches
Was able to sleep on rest days in spite of the intense cold and heavy rain
Frequently mentioned shells, shrapnel and injuries to his colleagues
By November life was getting difficult
23rd ‘Very cold and windy. On well guard. No meat or bread. New position started.‘
29th ‘Work on new officer’s dugout. I go down to base at 3.30pm owing to septic finger.‘
2nd December ‘Sent to 26 clearing station. Spend night there. The next day, Reveille 6am boarded the Barrie with 450 others’
Spent most of December at a convalescent camp, food was scarce and did a lot of walking
His finger was being dressed almost daily and like others around him it was healing badly
14th February 1916 evacuated to Malta aboard the ‘Aragon’ with septic hand injury
15th 'Feel alright. Good grub. Parade 10:15am. See doctor'
17th reached Malta ‘after very rough seas’ and left on 23rd aboard the same ship
For the next 2 days sailed along the African coast ‘it was rather rough but alright’
Stayed overnight at Gibraltar departing at 10am on 27th February and enduring rough seas
2nd March 1916 reached Devonport and disembarked to ‘HMS Vival’
Next day left for London, had 17 days leave and pay of £5
7th March caught the 8:45am train for home from King’s Cross
Kept up correspondence with brothers Basil and Ralph and visited his cousins at Scotterwood
Went with Reverend John Blew to witness the bomb damage at Hull
Discharged from the R.N.A.S. on 20th March 1916
Since medics were in short supply he had been sent back to London to complete his studies
Qualified as a doctor at Charing Cross Hospital, London on 1st November 1918 and obtained the Conjoint diploma
There he met nursing sister Sarah Jane Dorothy ('Dorothy') Edgar
Called up for National Service as a Medical Officer in the Royal Flying Corps
Promoted from Flying Officer to Flight-Lieutenant on 1st February 1920
Left the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1920
Married Dorothy on 10th August 1922 at St. Martin's in the Fields, London
Appointed ophthalmic surgeon at Scunthorpe War Memorial Hospital in 1926
Had business premises in Doncaster, Gainsborough and Scunthorpe
Wife died in 1944
Enjoyed a lifelong interest in the countryside
Kept an accurate game book for all his shooting activities from the mid 1930s onwards
In 1953 joined the consultant staff at Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Married Barbara Ruby Roberts in 1955 in the Doncaster registration district
Lived at 65 Thorne Road, Doncaster and moved to 107 Thorne Road
Retired in 1960 visiting ophthalmologist to the Yorkshire School for the Blind
Died on 28th February 1979 aged 83 after a car accident
Ashes interred in the family plot at Scotter Cemetery
Brother of Robert Astley Franklin
Brother of Basil Franklin
Brother of Ralph Franklin