Name
Frank Freeman
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/05/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31149
Royal Fusiliers
34th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
Q. III. N. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Leverstock Green Village Memorial,
Pre War
Frank Freeman was born in Eaton Bray, Beds in 1880 the son of William and Sarah Freeman.
The family were living at Kensworth, Nr Luton, Beds on the 1881 Census. They had moved to High Wood Cottages, Bushey, Herts by 1891 where his father was working as a Shepherd.
On the 1911 Census, Frank was a boarder at the home of George and Isabella Thorpe at 49 Lower Paddock Road, Bushey, Herts (N.B. his brother Herbert had been a boarder at no. 51 on the 1901 Census) N.B. His place of birth was given as Leverstock Green which was incorrect.
On enlistment he gave his address as 42 Ebury Road, Watford, Herts, where he was living with Isabella Thorpe, and listed his father William as next of kin, living at Westwick Row, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead. He also gave his place of birth as Harpenden, which was incorrect. Isabella received a separation allowance of 28 shillings a week when he was called up.
Wartime Service
Frank enlisted on 10 December 1915 at Watford, aged 35 and was put on the reserve list until mobilized on 27 March 1916. He was posted to the Royal Fusiliers on 5 April 1916 (reg. no. 31149) and sent to France on 7 May 1916. He served in several engagements, including at the Somme, Ypres and Cambrai.
He was transferred to the Labour Company on 14 May 1917 (reg. no. 60133). Having served 18 months overseas, Frank received leave to return to England, however he overstayed his leave by 24 hours and received 7 days field punishment and forfeited 2 days' pay.
On the night of 11/12 May 1918, 101st Company, were laying cables in the Fonquevillers area when they were attacked by German high explosive and gas shells. As a result of this, 136 men and 3 officers would die in the following weeks from gas wounds and a further 130 men received hospital treatment. Frank died on 23 May at the 5th General Hospital in Rouen from the effects of a gas shell.
Additional Information
Frank left an army will leaving all his belongings to Isabella Thorpe who was noted as his dependent and she also received his war and victory medals, although his plaque and scroll were sent to his parents. Isabella Thorpe received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £8 8s 5d. His brother Herbert Freeman died in 1917 and is named on the Arras Memorial. N.B. Records from various sources use either Royal Fusiliers reg. no. 31149 or Labour Corps reg. no. 60133 or both.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, google.com/site/leverstockgreenwarmemorial, hemelatwar.org., dacorumheritage.org.uk.
