South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 28218 Frank FREEMAN - 9th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

Killed in Action on Wednesday, April 25, 1917 aged 20


Military History

   
Theatre of WarMedalsCommonwealth War Grave of Memorial
Salonika British War & Victory Medals Doiran Memorial
     
Arrived in TheatreMedal Citation (if app)SWFHS Area Memorials
After May 1916 ~ Welford on Avon
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason KilledDate and Place EnlistedOther War Memorials
Second Battle of Doiran
After 26 Apr 1916 at Stratford on Avon ~
     
Place of DeathPrevious Regiments or Units 
Doiran, Greece ~  
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Frank is listed as Missing/Killed in Action on 25 Apr 1917. His remains were never recovered for burial.
 
Very little is available on the internet about the 9th Battalion, Gloucestershire's during the Second Battle of Doiran. War diaries for Macedonia/Salonika are not availble.

In general the British infantry began its attack on the night of 24–25 April. Twelve companies attacked the Bulgarian 2nd Brigade and, after a bloody fight, managed to take the "Nerezov," "Knyaz Boris," and "Pazardzhik" positions. After a Bulgarian counterattack, the British were repulsed with heavy casualties and, by 8 pm, had retreated.[5] The British assaults on the right and central fronts were also repulsed with heavy casualties after help from the Bulgarian artillery. 
 
I have also found mention of a very heavy artillery barrage that killed other men of the 9th Battalion on the same day and it is likely that Frank was killed by that barrage.

 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/PlaceBapitsm Date/Place
Jul Qtr 1897 at Welford on Avon  
   
Parents NamesAbode
George and Rosa Freeman The Close, Welford-on-Avon 
   
SchoolsColleges
  ~
   
Address HistoryEmployment History
1897 - Welford on Avon 1911 - Farm Labourer
1901 - Chapel Street, Welford on Avon  
1911 - Pool's Close, Welford on Avon  
1916 - The Close, Welford-on-Avon