Author Topic: private walter sydney freeman  (Read 2724 times)

Offline fedupp

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private walter sydney freeman
« on: Thursday 07 September 17 19:45 BST (UK) »
 Looking for any information on private walter sidney freeman 59757, ist batt. Northamptonshire regiment ,who died of his wounds  age 21  On 19th december 1918 . Buried at st. Sever cemetry ext. Rouen cwgc . 
 Does anyone know anything about 1st batt . Thanks .
Fleming,o'connor/connor
Morgan,lewis,freeman,
Glithero

Offline MaxD

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Re: private walter sydney freeman
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 07 September 17 20:32 BST (UK) »
You can download the war diary of the battalion for the time of his death for £3.50 here http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14052712, there are others covering other periods.

However, at the time of his death, the regiment were already in Germany.  He is buried near Rouen in France where there were a considerable number of hospitals.  The Register of Soldiers Effects records his death as being from sickness rather than wounds so he must have been evacuated back down the medical chain to a hospital in the Rouen area.  There is only a very slight chance that the diary may record his evacuation.

A local paper may have reported his death?

MaxD

PS His service record has not survived so no medical history.
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline fedupp

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Re: private walter sydney freeman
« Reply #2 on: Friday 08 September 17 08:13 BST (UK) »
MaxD thanks for info .so probably no way to find when he was moved to rouen?? Any hospital records ?  MaxD can you tell me why you think his. Service record has not survived ??  Anyway to find out any more info.??? Thanks.
Fleming,o'connor/connor
Morgan,lewis,freeman,
Glithero

Offline KGarrad

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Re: private walter sydney freeman
« Reply #3 on: Friday 08 September 17 08:31 BST (UK) »
Some 2/3 of all the WW1 Service Records were destroyed in a WW2 bombing raid.
Many lost to fire; others lost to water damage.
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)


Offline MaxD

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Re: private walter sydney freeman
« Reply #4 on: Friday 08 September 17 09:33 BST (UK) »
KG has covered the record survival question, only his medal card and the Effects Register, which were separately stored, are to hand.

The vast majority of medical records were destroyed after the war.  A "representative" selection was retained by the National Archives in their reference MH 106, description here http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10949

The collection is being digitised by a subscription site  called Forces War Records (this is not an endorsement).  His name does not produce a hit on that site.

The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918/20 hit the weakened German population hard in 1918. A likely scenario is that he contracted flu.

I'll take a closer look at the war diary although first look comes up without clues.

MaxD
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline MaxD

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Re: private walter sydney freeman
« Reply #5 on: Friday 08 September 17 09:53 BST (UK) »
Further - the diary of the Assistant Director of Medical Services for the 1st Division (of which 1st Northants was a part) records for Dec 1918 - 686 men in the medical system for sickness of whom 154 were suffering from flu and remarks that it is "the prevailing disease".  Proves nothing but is perhaps indicative. 

MaxD
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline fedupp

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Re: private walter sydney freeman
« Reply #6 on: Friday 08 September 17 18:50 BST (UK) »
Thanks to KGarrad and MaxD.
 What about the' burnt' records I hear so much about ? Would anyone know if any records exist with the regiment ,not sure who it amalgamated with ? Would any one know. Also what would 1st batt strengh have been at that time. ? 5 or 6 co. ? Thanks.
Fleming,o'connor/connor
Morgan,lewis,freeman,
Glithero

Offline MaxD

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Re: private walter sydney freeman
« Reply #7 on: Friday 08 September 17 19:41 BST (UK) »
The "burnt records" are the one third (see KGs post) that did survive and in this case they didn't.

The 1st Battalion had four companies, total strength about 1000 men.

After a short lived amalgamation with the Lincolnshire Regiment in 1948, the regiment ended up as part of the Royal Anglian Regiment in 1964.  Its museum will not, like almost all regimental museums, have personal records.  Those records that do exist are here
http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museum/abington-park-museum/

MaxD
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline fedupp

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Re: private walter sydney freeman
« Reply #8 on: Friday 08 September 17 22:39 BST (UK) »
MaxD ,thanks ! I did contact abington park a few years ago,think they were undergoing some sort of re-organisation at the time and weren't able to help, I shall try again.
What about conscription records for parts of northamptonshire wonder if they still exist ?
Would the archives at wooton hall hold anything on the regiment ? Thanks.
Fleming,o'connor/connor
Morgan,lewis,freeman,
Glithero