FREEMAN, Daniel


No.116133, Gunner, Daniel FREEMAN
Aged 32


19th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
Killed in Action, presumed on Thursday, 28th March 1918


Daniel FREEMAN was born in Haverhill (Risbridge Q2-1885 4A:689), son of Daniel and Martha FREEMAN (née WEBB).


1891 census...Aged 5, he was at Essex Yard, Station Road, Haverhill with his father Daniel FREEMAN [33] silk weaver; his mother Martha [34]; sisters Ethel E [12] and Martha A [11]; brother Stanley [2]. All were born in Haverhill.

1901 census...Aged 15, a hawker's assistant, he was at 39 Mount Road, Haverhill with his parents; brothers Stanley and Clifford [6] and sister Laura Edith. The two new siblings also born in Haverhill.

1911 census...Aged 25, a tobacconist, he was still at 39 Mount Road, with his parents; sister Laura; brother Clifford (finisher of hair cloth) ; widower grandfather William FREEMAN [87] retired gardener; visitor Kate MITCHLEY [22] single, born Haverhill. His mother had lost one of her six children.

He married Kate MITCHLEY (b.27-4-1888) on 10th April 1911 in Cambridge. Their son, Eric Daniel Henry FREEMAN was born in Haverhill on 25th May 1913. By 1919, according to Army documents, his widow and son had moved to 8 Trinity Place, Kings Street, Cambridge. His parents and sister Martha Annie [39] and Laura Edith [27] were still at Mount Road, Haverhill, brother Stanley[30] was at Victoria House,Crown Road, Sheringham and Clifford was at Clements House,High Street, Sheringham.

The pension card has his widow and son at 75 High Street, Haverhill.


Daniel attested in Sudbury on 24th June 1916 and was mobilised at Dover on 5th September 1916.He gave his age as 31 years 3 months, married, a tobacconist/confectioner from 75 High Street, Haverhill. He was 5 feet 8.25 inches (173.3 cm) tall, weighed 141 lbs (64.2 kg), chest 36.5" to 39.5" (92.7 to 100.3 cm), Congregationalist.
He was in UK until 6th February 1917, when he was posted to France to the British Expeditionary Force. Taken ill on 16th April 1917, he was admitted to No.2 Australian General Hospital in Boulogne and from there via HMHS "Princess Elizabeth" he was evacuated to UK on 19th. Admitted to Middlesex War Hospital, Clacton on Sea on 20th April with P.U.O and myalgia (P.U.O. being Pyrexia of Unknown Origin, Army medical speak for "Don't know". He swiftly moved on to Rivercourt Hospital in Maldon on 23rd April.It was not until 3rd November that he returned to France.
He was reported missing on 28th March 1918. Enquiries of International Red Cross were negative, but No.338347 Gunner S FARLEY gave written evidence in the matter (the letter is not included in the document) and eventually his death was officially presumed to have been on 28th March, or since.
According to the Haverhill Echo 25th January 1919:-
"On October 23rd last, Mrs. D.Freeman, of 75 and 77 High Street, heard through the Red Cross Society that her husband Gnr. D.Freeman Siege Battery, R.G.A. had been killed, but she has just received official confirmation from the War Office. Gnr.Freeman, who was 32 years of age at the time of his death, joined up in September 1916, and proceeded to France in January 1917. He became an inmate of Maldon Hospital in May 1917, and returned to France in the following November. He was report missing on March 28th last year, and the War Office now intimates that he was killed on or about that date. The deceased soldier was popular in town, where he conducted a tobacconists and confectionery business, which was carried on by his widow until the close of last year, and has since been taken over by his parents."


The war diary for his unit has not been found but he died the first week of the German Spring Offensive when our units were being over-run everywhere. Strangely the Red Cross say nothing known, but his "Soldier's Personal Effects" record shows he died whilst prisoner of war. Possibly the missing statement from Gunner Farley could have given more detail.




photo: Roy Beardsworth



Daniel Freeman is commemorated on the Pozières memorial, panel 10

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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