Name
William Freeman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/05/1915
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2780
East Surrey Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PUTNEY VALE CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM
D.2. 296.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Little Heath memorials, Not on the Potters Bar Memorials
Pre War
William Freeman was born in Jun 1883 at Little Heath, Potters Bar (baptised 23 Sep 1883 at St. John’s, Potters Bar) to Robert Freeman, a gardener, and Elizabeth (nee Robertson). His parents were living at Thornton Road, Little Heath.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Robert (born 1876), Frank (born 1879), George (born 1882), William, Nellie (Helen, born 1886), and Agnes (born 1889),
On the 1901 Census William was a Gardener living at Downshire House Bothey, Roehampton. His parents with Helen (Nellie), and Agnes (dressmaker’s apprentices) were living at 11 High Street, Putney.
On the 1911 Census William was living at 23 High Street Roehampton with his Parents, Nellie, and Agnes (both dressmakers).
William married Sophia Benfield on 19 Oct 1913, there would be a son William (born 15 Mar 1913).
Wartime Service
No Service Records were found for William,
He probably volunteered soon after the outbreak of the Great War in Aug 1914 joining as Private 2780 in the East Surrey Regiment. William went to France on 24 Mar 1915 following his training, to join the 2nd Battalion who had arrived in France on 19 Jan 15 with 28 Division.
They were deployed to the Ypres Salient taking part in the 2nd Battle of Ypres (1915) at Gravenstafel (22-23 Apr) and St Julien (14 Apr- 4 May). William had been wounded during these Battles and although evacuated to hospital in Cardiff, he died of his wounds on 13 May 1915.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 was paid to his father Robert. There was a debtor’s balance to pay of 3s 8d.
Mrs. Freeman - presumed to be his wife, ordered his headstone inscription while living at 7, St. Stephen's Terrace, Putney Bridge Rd., Putney, London, it reads: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS".
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
