Walter Freeborough
He was a plate layer.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Walter Freeborough was born in 1872 at Rotherby, Leicester he was the son of Thomas a fish dealer and his second wife Emma Freeborough née Fisher.
His father Thomas was born in 1826 at Leicester, (he married his first wife Elizabeth Newton (1824-1856) in 1843 their marriage was registered in the Melto Mowbray registration district, they had 9 children)
His mother Emma Fisher born 1835 at Long Clawson she married his father Thomas in 1859 their marriage was recorded in the Melton Mowbray registration district, they had 6 children, he was the brother of George, Priscilla, Lydia and Matilda Freeborough.
In 1881 they lived in Leicester.
Walter married Hilda Mary Edgoose in 1899 at Leicester.
He cited John Freeborough of 36 Dale Road Carlton Nottingham as next of kin.
Private Walter Freeborough enlisted at Leicester on 1st September 1914, giving his age as 42 yrs and 330 days, he was a plate layer, he was placed in the Special Reserve. He was deprived of 4 days' pay for misconduct 5th July 1916 and awarded 14 days' detention 20th July 1915.
He was posted 9th September 1915, he died in Mesopotamia on 13th January 1916 his name is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.
Special Reserve
This was a form of part-time soldiering, in some ways similar to the Territorial Force. Men would enlist into the Special Reserve for 6 years and had to accept the possibility of being called up in the event of a general mobilisation and otherwise undertake all the same conditions as men of the Army Reserve. Their period as a Special Reservist started with six months full-time training (paid the same as a regular) and they had 3-4 weeks training per year thereafter. A man who had not served as a regular could extend his SR service by up to four years but could not serve beyond the age of 40. A former regular soldier who had completed his Army Reserve term could also re-enlist as a Special Reservist and serve up to the age of 42.
All regiments had a unit (or more) dedicated to the administration and training of the Special Reservists.
David Nunn
Photo of Walter Freeborough
Basra Memorial Iraq