William Arthur Freeman
He was a broom maker upon his enlistment
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William Arthur Freeman was born in 1898 at Nottingham, he was the son of Henry Freeman a fitter and Mary Ann Freeman née Ashmore of 40 Pym Street, Nottingham.
His father Henry Freeman, born in 1866 in Lincolnshire, employed as an iron dresser. his mother: Mary Ann Ashmore was born 1863 in Lincolnshire, they were married in 1885 at Nottingham, they had 8 children, sadly 1 was to die in infancy or earley childhood.
his brothers: Tyed, born 1886, working as a coal miner, Henry, born 1887, working as a lace dresser and Ernest, born in 1896 and working as a box maker. his sisters: Ada, born in 1892, working as a lace dresser, Margaret, born in 1894, working as a laundress and Mary Ann, born 1903.
The family lived at 18 Kingston Street, Nottingham, before moving to 23 Haywood Street, Sneinton, Nottingham.
In the 1911 census the family were living at 23 Haywood Street, Sneinton, Notitngham, Henry 45 yrs is a fitter he is living with his wife Mary Ann 43 yrs and their children, Ada 19 yrs a lace dresser, Maggie 17 yrs a laundress, Ernest 15 yrs a box maker, William 13 yrs an errand boy for a broom maker and Mary Ann 8 yrs of age.
Prvate William Arthur Freeman was called up and enlisted on 25th October 1916 at Nottingham, giving his address as 40 Pym Street, Nottingham, he was 18 yrs years and 185 days old, his next of kin was his mother Mary Ann of the same address, he was a broom maker he reported to the depot at Derby the following day and was posted to the Highland Light Infantry.
He landed in France on 3rd June 1917 and was transferred on 18th June 1917 to the Royal Scots Regiment, He was serving in the area of Flanders near the North Sea which had been partially flooded. Despite being a quiet area there were occasional sporadic shelling and machine gun fire. Freeman was killed in action on 26th August 1917 but his body was never recovered. His name was commemorated on the Nieuport Memorial.
additional research and information Peter Gillings
Photo of William Arthur Freeman
Nieuport Memorial, Belgium