Name
Frederick John Freeman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/07/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
4th Bn. attd. 2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PUCHEVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY
I. A. 31.
France
Headstone Inscription
HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE HIS COURSE SO TRULY RUN PEACE, PERFECT PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial
Pre War
Frederick John was born on East Finchley in 1893, the elder son of Frederick William Freeman, an analytical pharmaceutical chemist and Emily Elizabeth (nee Dickinson).
By the 1911 Census they were living in Arden Grove, Harpenden. Frederick was studying to be a Chartered Accountant. On 6 May 1910 Frederick enrolled in 4 East Anglian Brigade Royal Field Artillery (TF) and cited membership of St Albans School Officer Training Corps. He continued this service at least to 1912.
Wartime Service
Frederick was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment.
He trained in the 4th Battalion and went to France on 2 Dec 1915 to join the 2nd Battalion on the Somme. The Battalion was involved in the early stages of the Battle of the Somme and Frederick died of wounds on 3 July 1916.
Additional Information
His father, Mr F W Freeman, Heatherdale, Arden Grove, Harpenden, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE HIS COURSE SO TRULY RUN PEACE, PERFECT PEACE", Younger brother Leslie William served with Middlesex regiment as 2nd Lt and survived the War.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
