Name
Harry William Freeman (MM)
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/03/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
41894
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 74 to 76.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Harry William Freeman was born on 7 March 1898 in Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of James and Louisa Freeman, and baptised the following September in St Mary's Church, Apsley End. His brother Arthur was born three years later.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 94 Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was working in the paper mill.
At the time of his death his parents lived at Fireman Cottages Apsley End, Kings Langley, Herts. Harry's younger brother Arthur died in October 1918 from acute tubercular bronchitis.
Wartime Service
Harry William Freeman enlisted in October 1915 in Hertford, when he was only seventeen and underage. He joined the Northamptonshire Regiment, (reg. no. 26798), perhaps because he hoped he would not be known by anyone who knew his true age. He was sent for basic training and would probably have been sent overseas in October/November 1916. At that time he was posted to the 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, which was in the process of being reinforced following heavy casualties in the attack on Ginchy in September.
It is likely that he joined the unit on 21 November at Locre, near Ypres, as part of a draft of 108 men. He first saw action at the Battle of Messines in June, followed by the Battle of Langemarck in August, where Harry was awarded the Military Medal for 'an act of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire'. The circumstances of his bravery are not known but it was reported in the London Gazette issue 30389 on 16 November 1917.
In November 1917, the 7th Battalion was absorbed into the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles and by March 1918 the Battalion was in Cambrai in France where they celebrated St Patrick's Day on 17 March.
He was killed in action on 24 March 1918, aged 20, when the battalion was at Cugny. At about 2 pm the Germans attacked with artillery, machine guns and low-flying aeroplanes. When the German infantry arrived many of the 2nd Irish Rifles had fired all their bullets and had only their bayonets. 150 men were involved in hand to hand fighting and Harry was one of the 92 that were killed.
He was listed as missing in action and death was presumed. Like many of his comrades, he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.
Additional Information
We believe this man appears as H A Freeman on the memorial. His mother received a pension of 5 shillings a week from 3 December 1918. His father received a war gratuity of £11 and pay owing of £6 10s 4d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelatwar.org, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelheroes.com.
