Name
Walter Freeman
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/05/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14158
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing in Belgium.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial Waltham Cross
Pre War
Walter Freeman was born in Camberwell/Peckham, Surrey, in 1895, son of James Freeman a, Foreman at a Mineral Water Works, and Emma Maria Freeman, (nee Scotchett). The second of six children.
1901 Census records Walter aged 6, living with his parents, three brothers and sister Emma (1) at, 1 Park Lane, Cheshunt, Herts. His uncle Walter Freeman (22) was living with the family.
1911 Census, Walter (16), is working at the Cordite Works, in Waltham Abbey, Middx, as a General Help, living with his parents, four brothers and sister Emma (11) at, 1 Park Lane, Cheshunt, Herts.
Wartime Service
Walter travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlisted, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 14158. On completion of his training, he arrived in France on 27th April 1915, arriving at the front on 30th April 1915, with a draft of 3 Officers and 300 other ranks. Just six days later on 6th May 1915, Walter was Killed in Action, aged 20, during an attack on our trench line by the enemy, in the area of Hill 60.
Extract from the Battalion War Diary: "7th May 1915: Battalion relived by the Royal Irish Rifles at about 2pm. Marched back to hutments in reserve. Casualties during the two previous days 3 Officer and 290 Men."
Additional Information
His effects of £2-1s-11d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £3, went to his Emma Freeman.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
