FREEMAN, Harold Ernest
| Service Number: | 3150 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Quaama, New South Wales, Australia , 1893 |
| Home Town: | Quaama, Bega Valley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Teamster |
| Died: | Gas Shell Poisoning, secondary Lobar Pneumonia, Section 3, Reading War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, England , 25 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Reading Cemetery, England Buried in Reading Cemetery, Reading, Berkshire – Screen Wall. 72. 16432. Those buried in Plot 72 & buried in other parts of the cemetery that do not have headstones marking their graves are named on the Memorial Screen Wall located near the Cross of Sacrifice. Their deaths are still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cobargo & District Soldiers War Memorial, Quaama - Verona - Upper Broga War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 3150, 53rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 3150, 53rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney |
Help us honour Harold Ernest Freeman's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in UK & Ireland”
Harold Ernest Freeman was born at Quaama, near Bega, NSW in April, 1893 to mother Emily Freeman. Possible father – John Sirchum (?). Emily Freeman married Charles Inskip in 1894 in the district of Bega, NSW.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 12th June, 1916 as a 23 year old, single, Teamster from Quaama via Bega, NSW. His next of kin was listed as his friend – John Goodsell, of Quaama via Bega, NSW.
Private Harold Ernest Freeman, Service number 3150, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Suevic (A29) on 11th November, 1916 with the 53rd Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements & disembarked at Davenport, England on 30th January, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was marched into 14th Training Battalion, Hurdcott, Wiltshire from Australia on 1st February, 1917.
On 21st July, 1917 Private Freeman was marched into 15th Training Battalion at Hurdcott for rations and accommodation only (isolation). He returned to 14th Training Battalion, Hurdcott on 29th July, 1917.
Private Freeman proceeded overseas to France from 14th Training Battalion, Hurdcott via Southampton on 17th October, 1917. He was marched in to 5th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Havre, France on 18th October, 1917. Private Freeman was marched out to his Unit from Havre on 21st October, 1917 & was taken on strength of 53rd Infantry Battalion, from 8th Reinforcements on 26th October, 1917.
He reported sick on 11th January, 1918 & was admitted to 14th Australian Field Ambulance with Scabies. He was transferred to 20th General Hospital at Camiers on 12th January, 1918. Private Freeman was discharged to Base Depot on 22nd January, 1918 & was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre on 24th January, 1918. He was marched out to his Unit on 30th January, 1918 & rejoined his Battalion on 20th February, 1918.
Private Harold Ernest Freeman was wounded in action (Gassed) on 17th April, 1918. He was admitted to 55th Field Ambulance on 17th April, 1918 then transferred to 55th Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Private Freeman was taken by Ambulance Train on 18th April, 1918 & admitted to 9th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 19th April, 1918. Private Freeman embarked for England on Hospital Ship Panama on 20th April, 1918.
On 21st April, 1918 Private Freeman was admitted to War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, England suffering from Gas Shell Poisoning – severe.
Private Harold Ernest Freeman died at 6.50 am on 25th April, 1918 at Section 3, Reading War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, England from Wounds - Gas Shell Poisoning, secondary Lobar Pneumonia.
He was buried in Reading Cemetery, Reading, Berkshire – Screen Wall. 72. 16432.
Those buried in Plot 72 & buried in other parts of the cemetery that do not have headstones marking their graves are named on the Memorial Screen Wall located near the Cross of Sacrifice. Their deaths are still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Private H. E. Freeman is named on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Screen Wall in Reading Cemetery as he does not have a headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/reading.html
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