Name
Frank Freeman
14 Jun 1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/05/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31149
Royal Fusiliers *1
34th (County of London) 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 War Memorial, Hemel Hempstead War Memorial
Pre War
Frank Freeman was born in Eaton Bray (poss Kensworth), Bedfordshire on 14 June 1880 the son of William and Sarah Freeman, and one of thirteen children. He was baptised at St Mary's Church, Watford on 8 June 1888.
The family were living at Kensworth, Nr Luton, Beds on the 1881 Census. His father moved frequently to find work, resulting in the children being born in various locations in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. They had moved to High Wood Cottages, Bushey, Herts by 1891 where his father was working as a Shepherd.
On the 1901 and 1911 Censuses Frank was a lodger with George and Isabella Thorpe (probably Frank's sister) at 49 Lower Paddock Road, Bushey, Herts (N.B. his brother Herbert had been a boarder at no. 51 on the 1901 Census. His place of birth was given as Leverstock Green which was incorrect.), In 1901 he was listed as a Gas Factory Labourer and a General Labourer in 1911. His landlord George also worked as a Gas Labourer and is likely that both worked for the Watford Gas and Coke Company, which was only a mile from Bushey.
By 1913 Frank had moved with the Thorpes to 42 Ebury Road, Watford and on enlistment he gave that as his home address and his birth place was given as Harpenden. His father William as next of kin, living at Westwick Row, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead. Isabella received a separation allowance of 28 shillings a week when he was called up.
Wartime Service
Frank's job at the Gas Company was a reserved occupation so he enlisted under the Derby Scheme, (whereby service could be deferred), on 10 December 1915 at Watford, and was transferred to the Army Reserve until mobilized on 27 March 1916.
He was posted to the Royal Fusiliers on 5 April 1916 (reg. no. 31149) and almost immediately sent to France on 7 May 1916. This quick posting seems to have been due to his labouring skills and not his very basic training as an infantry soldier as he was assigned to the 34th Labour Battalion.
Although not directly in the line of fire, the work of the labouring soldiers was very important to the war effort and often took place within range of enemy guns and snipers. Following the creation of the Labour Corps in 1917, the 34th Labour Battalion was re-designated as the 101st Company, Labour Corps. (reg. no. 60133).
Having served 18 months overseas, Frank received 11 days leave to return to England from 23 October 1917 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, the 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 died in the following weeks from gas wounds and a further 130 men received hospital treatment.
Frank died on 23 May, aged 37, at the 5th General Hospital in Rouen from the effects of a gas shell and is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.
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. She is also named on pension records as "unmarried wife", although there is no indication a pension was granted. 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.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn London Regiment – some sources suggest it was a Labour Battalion.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, google.com/site/leverstockgreenwarmemorial, www.hemelatwar.org., www.dacorumheritage.org.uk.
