Franks was the son of Charles Arthur Cooper (a painter) and Ellen Cooper, 17 Buckingham Street, Heaviley. He had been educated at St Thomas' Day School and Stockport Sunday School. He worked at Sykes' bleachworks and, in his spare time, was a sergeant in the St George's Lads Drill Company.

He enlisted in the local Territorial Battalion and his original service number, 4362, confirms he was not an early volunteer. He was killed in the Battalion's attack on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, described here.