Name
Christopher Cyril Freeman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Christopher Freeman was one of three brothers who served in the Great War. He was born in the summer of 1898 at Abbots Langley, one of seven children (five sons and two daughters) born to Elijah and Clara Freeman of 6 Garden Road. Elijah Freeman worked as a Stoker for a Stationary Steam Engine at the time of the 1911 Census.
Christopher enlisted with the 3/6th Brigade Field Artillery on 25th May 1915, and undertook a Medical Examination at Hertford, giving his home address at 6 Garden Road, Abbots Langley. He was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in July 1915, serving with the Royal Field Artillery. After training he embarked for France at Southampton on 17th November 1915, and disembarked the following day at Le Harve.
On 4th February 1916 he embarked at Marseilles, and six days later on 10th February arrived at Alexandria. The National Roll of the Great War indicated that Christopher was in action during the Battles at Gaza in March and April 1917 and then on 20th October 1917 his Service Record indicated that he was admitted to No 26 Stationary Hospital (in the Field) suffering from Diphtheria. He was discharged to duty on 31st October.
On 19th July 1918 Christopher was attached to the 7th Indian Division, serving in Palestine before being returned to his unit on 22nd July. A month later, on 16th August he was admitted to hospital for dental treatment at Kantara, before being posted to 270 Brigade in Palestine on 17th September 1918. After the Battle of Aleppo in October 1918, Christopher was once again admitted to hospital suffering from Pyrexia (fever) between 5th November and 12th December.
He returned to duty at Kantara on 6th February 1919, and embarked at Port Said for demobilisation on 8th July 1919. He was disembodied and demobilised on 20th August 1919, and returned to 6 Garden Road, Abbots Langley.
Christopher Freeman survived the War. His brothers Alfred and Frederick also served and survived the War, however Frederick was wounded on 31st July 1917 during the Hertfordshire’s fateful attack on the Langemark Line, to the north of Ypres. He spent two years in hospital and was Discharged Disabled.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
