FREEMAN, Albert Charles
| Service Number: | 1820 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 March 1916, Townsville, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 41st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mackay, Queensland, 26 March 1889 |
| Home Town: | Home Hill, Burdekin, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 11 June 1917, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Messines Ridge British Cemetery Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Messines, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ayr War Memorial, Brisbane 41st Battalion Roll of Honour, Home Hill Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1820, Townsville, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1820, 41st Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Boorara embarkation_ship_number: A42 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1820, 41st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Boorara, Brisbane | |
| 11 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1820, 41st Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines |
Family background
Albert was born at Mt. Vince, near Mackay, Queensland on 26 March 1889. His parents were Thomas L Freeman, a mechanical engineer who originally worked as a ship's engineer and later as an engineer in coal mines and sugar mills in Australia. He was born in Coleraine, Antrim, Ireland in 1849 and died at Home Hill, Queensland on 14 February 1926 . Albert's mother was Mary Ann Freeman (nee Coffey), born Liverpool, England in 1851 and died Toowoomba, Queensland.
The family moved to Ayr Queensland where TL Freeman constructed sugar mills and was Chief Engineer. Eldest surviving son Joseph Arthur Freeman, Albert's brother, was successful at a land ballot for new farms to be cleared for sugar cane to supply the then new Inkerman Sugar Mill at Home Hill. Joseph, George and Albert were working this farm at the outbreak of WW1.
Albert enlisted on 16 March 1916, having already served 4 years with 27th Australian Light Horse. He embarked on A42 Boorara, departing Brisbane for Plymouth England on 16 August 1916 and arriving 13 October. He departed for France from Southampton on 24 November 1916. 41st Battalion had a supporting role at Messines commencing on 7 June 1916 but Albert was killed on 11 June 1916, aged 28.
My mother, Norma Ena Smith, born 15 May 1923, is a daughter of Joseph Arthur Freeman.
John William (Jack) Smith dob 22.09.1947
Submitted 5 April 2018 by Jack Smith
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