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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Corporal A/1024 Alfred Thomas FREEMAN - 8th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps


Killed in Action on Friday 24th August 1917 aged 25


Military History

   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Tyne Cot Memorial
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
18 May 1915 ~ Alcester
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place EnlistedOther War Memorials
Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)  Oct 1914 at Birmingham ~
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
near Zillebeke ~  
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Alfred is listed as being killed in action on 24 Oct 1917 and the war diary for that day is transcribed in full below.

“Clapham Junction” August 24th 1917: All B Coy and D Coy and 2 platoons of A Coy I've been relieved and had marched to Zillebeke Bund while SOS signals went up from the front line on the enemy counterattacked. Dispositions of the remainder of the 8th K.R.R.C at that time were as follows:- HQ and Communications Section in Clapham Junction tunnel under the Menin Road. Two platoons of A Coy in Jam Reserve trench just behind Sterling Castle. C Coy forming A defensive flank facing South from Inverness Copse to Sterling Castle.

The counterattack was a failure except on the left between Glencorse Wood and Inverness Copse where patrols of enemy were pushed forward. They did not get far but during the day we had to withdraw from Inverness Copse and held the The ? edge of it. The Battalion suffered badly from shell fire during the day and lost six officers killed and three officers wounded while amongst other ranks there were about 100 casualties. The casualties were mostly caused by shell fire and owing to the weakening of the ridge from this course the remainder of the battalion was recalled from Zillebeke Bund.

About one hour after they arrived the whole battalion was relieved and marched back to Zillebeke Bund. The attached total casualties were nine Officers and 230 Other Ranks. END




 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBaptism Date/Place
26 Jan 1892 at Alcester 27 Apr 1892 at Alcester
   
Parents NamesAbode
William and Mary Freeman School Road, Alcester
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1892 - Birmingham Road, Alcester 1911 - Railway Porter at Yate, Gloucs 
1901 - Moors, Alcester  
1911 - Station Road, Yate, Gloucs  

1917 - School Road, Alcester