Harry Clifford Freeman

Accidentally fell from the roof of The Savoy Cinema, Newark. Enlisted in the Northamptonshire Regt RA.

The 50th L.A.A Brigade formed 24/8/1939 at RAF Hucknall taking in RA and RE units from other divisions into the Midlands 2nd A.A. Division. The brigade was given responsibilities for primary defence of Nottingham and Derby along with other North Midland towns.

Evening Telegraph, Thursday, January 2, 1941.

Father's Protest at Inquest on Son Rushden Gunner’s Fatal Fall from Roof - Inquiry Likely
Mr. Cyril Freeman, of Rushden, well-known as hon. secretary of the Town Football Club, raised a protest at the inquest on his son, Gunner Harry Clifford Freeman (Royal Artillery), who died of injuries received on Christmas Eve.

Gunner Freeman, who was 18, fell 45 feet from the roof of the Savoy Theatre, Newark, and died later on the operating table at the County Emergency Hospital. Evidence showed that three soldiers were removing a structure of railway sleepers from the roof. Standing on the parapet, Gunner Freeman had unfastened one of the iron bands when some of the sleepers slipped, one striking him and causing him to fall into the yard below. The sleepers had become very slippery owing to rain.

After asking questions as to who gave the orders for the job, Mr. Cyril Freeman said: "From
Information I have received from the others, my lad was not detailed. They drew cards and he was unfortunate: one drew number nine and he drew ten. I think it is very lax on someone's part that this should happen. If I were at work, the foreman would give me orders what to do, and I should do it to the best of my ability, but I say no one ever gave these lads orders to do what they were going to do."

The Coroner: It often happens in the Army that men decide among themselves who shall do things.

Mr. Freeman: I served in the last war and I always had to take my orders from an officer or an N.C.O.

Gunner A. C. Henderson said they intended to take the sleepers down one by one, but when the top steel band was removed, the sleepers seemed to slip down. Gunner Freeman was standing with one foot on the parapet and one on the roof. There was just over two feet between the structure and the parapet, but part of it was bevelled and reduced the standing room, making it more; convenient for the deceased to stand with one foot on the parapet.

Troop Sergt. J. W. Curwood said he had no knowledge of how individual men were selected for the job. Three men would be ample for the work. If there were more they would get in each others way.

Mr. Freeman asked P.C. Francis, another witness, if he thought it was dangerous work for a lad of deceased's age, and the constable replied: "I don't think so. It would depend on his temperament and whether he was used to height or not."

Other evidence showed that Gunner Freeman was fully conscious after the fall, but had concussion, shock, and a variety of fractures. He was given a blood transfusion but died about ten minutes after the onset of an operation.

Councillor J. T. Howitt, who spoke on behalf of Mr. Freeman and as chairman of the local British Legion branch, declared: "I was there during the construction of this place, and they had many more men then. It is my firm conviction that five or six men should have been there in the charge of an N.C.O. This roof does not belong to the Army, nor has it been requisitioned by the Army. By what authority were they there?"