FREESTONE, George Harold


No.5448, Private, George Harold FREESTONE
Aged 21


11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
Died of his Wounds on Thurday, 24th November 1918


Silver War Badge


George Freestone was born in Linton on 2nd June 1897 (Linton Q3-1897 3B:487), baptised in Linton on 1st August 1897, son of Samuel George and Alice FREESTONE (née CRACKNELL).

1901 census...Aged 3, he was at Horseheath with his uncle James READER [60] farm labourer born Shudy Camps; aunt Eliza READER [50] born Linton.
At High Street, Linton were his widower father Samuel George FREESTONE [42]horsekeeper; sisters Emma L [19] and Kate [11]; brothers Ernest G [16] a shepherd, Arthur W [14] farm labourer and Frederick W [7]. All born in Linton. His mother had died in 1897 (Q3 Linton-3B:309)

1911 census...Aged 13, he was still in Horseheath with his uncle and aunt and a cousin Constance FREEMAN [15] born Hildersham.
At Barham Road, Linton were his father; brothers Arthur and Frederick; sister Emma (all the men were farm labourers). The Army had his sole legatee as his aunt, Eliza Reader.

His brother Frederick Walter was killed in France on 12th October 1916 in the 7th Suffolk (#23285) and commemorated on the Linton war memorial


He enlisted on 15th November 19`15 in Sudbury and was placed on reserves. Mobilised in Bury St.Edmunds and posted to 5th Royal Fusiliers on 6th June 1916. He was a labourer, living "near The Red Lion", Horseheath.
On 26th September he was posted to the Expeditionary Force and joined the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. On 31st July 1917 he was gassed near Ypres and admitted to No 45 Casualty Clearing Station from where he was sent on 2nd August to No 1 Australian General Hospital, Rouen and thence to England on 15th August.
He was discharged as no longer fit for war service, in London, on 8th May 1918, he was then 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm) tall, chest 33.5" to 36.5" (85.1 to 92.7cm), grey eyes, brown hair. He was awarded a silver war badge #366.653. His intended address was given as near Red Lion, Horseheath. A medical board on 18th November 1918 awarded him 11 shillings per week for 40 % disability pension but he died on the 26th October.

His medal index card gives his number as Spts/5448 which indicate 23rd or 24th Sportsmans Battalion but there is no mention of this on his discharge records. It is very likely the original service number given to him and before he was mobilised.


War Diary:-
Chateau Segarde Area No1 - 31/7/17 - 6 am - At 6 am the battalion moved from CHATEAU SEGARDE AREA to RITZ AREA.
The 30th Division were held up in front to black line and it was decided that the Battalion (11th Royal Fusiliers) should carry out their part of the attack after 30th Division had launched a fresh attack on the Black Line on 1st August 1917, but owing to very wet weather setting in all operations had to be cancelled The battalion casualties were 2nd Lt Savours wounded (gas shell) 29 other ranks wounded (gas shell) Lt Aley wounded, 7 other ranks wounded.





George Freestone is buried in Horseheath (All Saints) Churchyard, between the chancel and north boundary

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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