Pte. Ralph Freeman


 

Mar 23, 1890

Born at Nottingham England

 NOTE:  The original attestation paper has Cornwall Ontario originally written in as birth place and the words “Nottingham England” overwritten

 

Nov 4, 1914

Attested at Kingston Ontario into the 21st Battalion 

Ø      Number 59344 (his original temporary number was 522)
Ø      Next of kin was given as Mrs James Freeman (mother) of Cornwall Ontario
Ø      Occupation was given as “Labourer”

o       Medical history compiled under same date listed his occupation as “Wood-worker”

Ø      Previous service was given as “59th Regt S&G (Stormont and Glengarry)
Ø      Religion given as “Baptist”
Ø      Large occipital protuberance noted (a bone protruding under the skin at the back of the head)
Ø      Noted as being in “E” Company (this was later reorganized as "C" Company) and assigned to No 9 Platoon

 

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the SS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp

 

Jul 10, 1915

Will was made out at West Sandling Camp, leaving all his cash and effects to his mother

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked at Folkestone England and disembarked at Boulogne France

 Served in MG section. #12 Platoon.  See Note #1

 

Jun 28, 1916

Killed in action

Hit by nose cap of German 77mm Whizz Bang in hip.  See Note #1

 

Jun 29, 1916

Pension granted (not specifically mentioned, but I assume to his mother)

 

Note #1  This additional information supplied by Steve Nichol

 

2010

For the 7 nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres.  At the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across Belgium and Canada.  The image above shows the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010. 

Below is the name of Ralph Freeman being broadcast to the schools.  Each name appeared for 25 seconds and each night 9,700 names were shown.

 

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