Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, Service no. 76467.
Born: 1890. Killed in action, 8th November 1918, aged 28.
Story
Bill was the eldest son of Dan Freeman (1863-1903) and Hannah Hobson (1867-1949), who farmed at Swinefleet, East Yorkshire with their 9 children. The family story tells that their sons Bill and George were exempt from war service on account of being agricultural workers. However, there was an expectation that in such situations, one son would enlist. Bill volunteered and joined the Yorkshire Regiment of the Northumberland Fusiliers. He almost made it through the war, but was killed in action on 8th November 1918. His mother, Hannah, probably did not receive the notification of his death until after the war was over. He is buried at St. Remy-Chaussée Communal Cemetery (below).
The family, and particularly his younger brother, George, were devastated by the loss. George’s son, Roger, recalled that his father wept every Christmas Day for the loss of his brother.
Bill is the Great Uncle of Jane Freeman, who lives in Kippax today. He was also descended from the Bickerdike family of Kippax through his paternal grandmother.
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