Henry James Freeman was born in 1887 in Peckham, a son of James Daines Freeman (1858-1925) and Annie Clementine Freeman née Johnson (1865-1955).His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1887 in the Lambeth registration district.
In the 1891 census he is shown as living in three rooms at 6 Woodfield Place, Paddington, with his parents and two brothers: Albert Francis Freeman (1888-1964) and Sidney Arthur Freeman (1890--1974). His father's occupation was recorded as a porter & fireman at a workhouse.
He was described as a telegraph messenger in the 1901 census living at 1 Warlock Road, Paddington, with his parents and six siblings: Albert, Sidney, Ellen Jane Catherine Freeman (1893-1949), George Randolph Freeman (b.1895), Rose Cecelia Freeman (1897-1981) and May Adelaide Freeman (b.1899).
U.K. Postal Service Appointment Books show him listed as an assistant postman in the London Western District Office in March 1905 and again as a 'Postman Div 1' in September 1905 in the London Postal Service West.
On 24 April 1910 he married Eva May Harrison at St Andrew's Church, Willesden, where the marriage register shows him as a postman and they were both recorded as residing at 80 Deacon Road, Willesden.
When he completed his 1911 census return he showed that he and his wife were living in two rooms at 71 Bravington Road, Paddington and that his occupation was a G.P.O. postman.
Their son, John Henry Freeman (1915-1996) was born on 17 July 1915 and when he was baptised at Emmanuel Paddington, Harrow Road, Paddington, on 26 September 1915, the baptismal registers show the family residing at 53 Hormead Road, Paddington. His occupation remained as a postman.
He enlisted in the Rifle Brigade, service number B/200184 and was attached to their 8th (Service) Battalion when he was killed in action, aged 30 years, on 24 August 1917 and as he has no known grave he is commemorated on Stone 146 of the Tyne Cot Memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Vijfwegestraat, 8980 Zonnebeke, Belgium.
Probate records show that he had been living at 38 Tunley Road, Willesden and that when probate was granted to his widow on 17 October 1917 his effects totalled £225-0s-0d. His army effects totalling £1-19s-9d were sent to his widow on 3 January 1918 and she was also sent his £5-0s-0d war gratuity on 29 October 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and on page 133 in the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance's Book of Remembrance 1914-1920.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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