|
Rushden Echo, 10th September 1915
Higham Ferrers Soldier Dies From Wounds
Shot in the Head – Touching Tributes
We sincerely regret to record the fact that Mrs. James Freeman, of 12 York-street, Higham Ferrers, has received the sad news that he fifth son, Pte. Bernard Freeman, 9887, A Company, 2nd Northants, has succumbed to wounds received in the fighting on September 1st.
His mother had been prepared for the bad news as she had already received information regarding the serious nature of her son’s illness.
Pte. H. Adams, of Higham Ferrers, one of deceased’s chums, wrote to Mrs. Freeman under date September 2nd as follows:- “It is with much regret that I write to inform you that your son Bernard was wounded on the morning of September 1st, but I am pleased to say that up to my enquiry tonight he was progressing favourably. I went down to see him just after it was done but was just too late as they had just taken him away. I trust that you will bear this news as lightly as possible but I thought it my duty to inform you of it, as I come from the same place and live near you. I am sure you have my deepest sympathy, also that of his comrades who, I am sure, will miss him very much. He was well liked and respected by all his company, and we all wish him the best of luck and a speedy recovery. I will enquire as often as possible while I really can how he is progressing and will at once inform you. I trust you will hear yourself and will you please let me know as you hear? We were chums before he enlisted, and have known each other since we were young, and I shall be very anxious about him. I wish Bernard the best of luck and a speedy recovery.”
On September 2nd Mrs. Freeman received the following letter from the 2nd London Casualty Clearing Station—“Dear Mrs. Freeman, I am so sorry to have to tell you that you son is patient in this hospital, having sustained a gunshot wound in the head. Your son’s condition is very dangerous. I am, your truly, H Smyth, Sister-in-charge.”
On September 4th Mrs. Freeman received from the Sister-in-charge the following letter:” I have the sad news to tell you of the death of Pte. Freeman which occurred here. He had sustained a dangerous wound in the head and only lived a short time after his admission here.”
Under date September 3rd, Second-Lieut C C Abraham, of the 2nd Northants Regiment, wrote as follows:- “I very much regret to have to inform you of the death of your son. He was shot when on duty in the trenches. We did our best for him and got him to hospital as soon as possible, and we heard with regret that he had succumbed. Please accept my sincere sympathy.”
The late Pte. B Freeman, who was 8 years of age, enlisted about four months before the outbreak of the war. He was invalided home from the front with frost bitten feet in January last, and was sent back to the firing line about three months ago. His brother, Pte J Freeman, of the 2nd Beds Regiment, was invalided home at the same time with pleurisy and is still in England. Both were interviewed by “Rushden Echo” representatives.”
Mrs. Freeman has one other son, Pte. Harry Holman, in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.
Befpore his enlistment the late Pte. B. Freeman was employed in Rushden at Mr. C. W. Horrell’s. He was for several years a member of the Higham St Mary’s C.L.B. and regularly attended the Bible Class of St Mary’s Sunday School. He was an enthusiastic footballer and was captain of a Higham Ferrers Club. In his military career he was most successful, and took his second and third certificates and was about to site for the first when war broke out. He started to study the French language before he left for the front, and whilst out there he managed to so perfect his knowledge that he was able to read and write French with ease, and could converse fluently. Much sympathy is felt with his mother in the loss she has sustained.
|
Son of Annie Freeman
