Name
Herbert Freeman
1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/10/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31982
York and Lancaster Regiment
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Leverstock Green Village Memorial,
We are not aware of any memorial in Westwick Row (*1)
Pre War
Herbert Freeman was born in Studham, Beds in 1879, the son of William and Sarah Freeman, and baptised there on 21 September 1879. 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. The family moved to Leverstock Green in around 1893.
He had moved out of the family home by 1901 and was living as a boarder at the home of widow Minnie Fowler at 51 Lower Paddock Road, Bushey and employed as a Gas Worker.
Unable to find on the 1911 Census, but his father William was given as his next of kin on his army service records as living in Westwick Row, Leverstock Green.
Wartime Service
He was working in Stourton, Leeds for the Leeds Sand & Gravel Company when he was called up for military service. The company wrote on 16 December 1915 to the army board stating that Herbert was employed as a labourer engaged on Government work, but 6 months later, on 16th June he was called up, aged 37 and was then living at 20 Saxon Lane, Leeds and became Private No. 34678 in the West Yorkshire Regiment.
He was sent to France on 6 October 1916 and transferred to the 10th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, (Reg. No. 42045) only to be transferred to the 12th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment 15 days later.
He took a trade test as a Platelayer at the workshops of the 109th Railway Company, Royal Engineers on 1 March 1917 and was transferred again to the Royal Engineers. (Reg. No. 307597)
When his death was presumed on 9 October 1917 it appears he had returned to the York & Lancaster Regiment. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Additional Information
*1 It may be that his father's address is Hertbert's only connection to Westwick Row.
His father received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £23 0s 4d.
Brother to Frank who died in 1918 and who is buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
google.com/site/leverstockgreenwarmemorial, hemelatwar.org.,
