Main CPGW Record
Surname: FREEMAN
Forename(s): Benjamin Henry
Place of Birth: Crosshills, Yorkshire
Service No: 745309
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Canadian Infantry
Battalion / Unit: 'A' Coy 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment)
Division: 1st Canadian Division
Age: 21
Date of Death: 1917-11-05
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 18 - 24 - 26 - 30.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: CROSSHILLS, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: KILDWICK, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Benjamin Henry Freeman (born 19 February 1896) was the son of Ernest Gilbert and Martha Ann Freeman, née Stell. Ernest was born at Farnley near Otley and Martha at Crosshills, Yorkshire.
1901 Glusburn, Yorkshire Census: 1, North Street - Benjamin H. Freeman, aged 5 years, born Crosshills, Yorkshire, son of Ernest G. and Martha A. Freeman.
1911 Silsden, Yorkshire Census: Tarden [Tufton?] Street, Skipton Road - Benjamin Henry Freeman, aged 15 years, born Crosshills, Yorkshire, son of Ernest Gilbert and Martha Ann Freeman.
Benjamin was married to Emily Maud Margaret Hartley in 1916.
Benjamin was killed in action during the Battles of Ypres, 1917, 31 July-10 November, at the Second Battle of Passchendaele, 26 October-10 November.
Emily married Thomas Wilfred Rees in 1925. In 1939 Emily and a son, David H. Rees, were living at 37, Main Street, Skipton, Yorkshire. Emily died in 1962.
Canadian service records: http://www.baclac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef
Data Source: Local War Memorial
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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
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Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.
Private Benjamin Henry FREEMAN
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Canadian Infantry
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 1st Canadian Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Martha Ann Freeman, née Stell with her sons Benjamin Henry (on left) and Charles Freeman
Courtesy of Ursula Glass
Private Benjamin Henry Freeman
Courtesy of Ursula Glass
Private (Lance Corporal?) Benjamin Henry Freeman (on right)
Courtesy of Ursula Glass
Sergeant Benjamin Henry Freeman
Courtesy of Ursula Glass
Sergeant Benjamin Henry Freeman (in uniform)
Courtesy of Ursula Glass
Sergeant Benjamin Henry Freeman (in uniform)
Courtesy of Ursula Glass
Sergeant Benjamin Henry Freeman (in uniform)
Courtesy of Ursula Glass
Private Benjamin Henry Freeman (on right)
Courtesy of Ursula Glass
Marriage Register of Keighley Parish Church, Yorkshire
Entry for the marriage of Benjamin Henry Freeman to Emily Maud Margaret Hartley, 23 December 1916
Courtesy of West Yorkshire Archive Service
A War Memorial in Canada that includes the name of Benjamin Henry Freeman
Courtesy of Ursula Glass
Memorial Chamber of Canada’s Parliament Buildings, Ottawa
In the Memorial Chamber are the eight ‘Books of Remembrance’ that contain the names of more than 120,000 Canadians who gave their lives in the service of Canada
Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman, Clitheroe)
Page from the First World War ‘Book of Remembrance’: Private Benjamin Henry Freeman
Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman, Clitheroe)
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
15 February 1918
CROSSHILLS – MEMORIAL SERVICE
On Sunday evening a memorial service was held in the Crosshills Wesleyan Church for four former members of the Sunday School, who have laid down their lives in the great war.–Lance-Corporal Benjamin H. Freeman, Canadians, killed in action on November 5th; Private George Inskip, West Riding Regiment, killed in action on November 27th; Private Percy Happs, West Riding Regiment, killed on April 25th last, or who had since died; Private Arthur Happs, who has been missing since 21st April last. The Pastor (Rev. Thomas Dargue) paid an eloquent tribute to these four noble youths. He said that from every pathway and aspect and relationship of life the war kept coming home to them, but it struck the hardest when it hit the men from our own homes and families. Since he last had a memorial service they had lost Private Ben Whitaker [Freeman], Canadian Forces, who prior to leaving England, was a member of their Sunday School, as well as the others mentioned above. He (the preacher) had sent an enquiry through the Rev. J.H. Bateson, their principal at the Army and Navy Board, concerning both the Happs boys, and he had a reply in reference to Percy Happs which gave a little detailed information. The writer of the letter said he could discover nothing certain as to what happened to him. His battalion took a very strong German position, from which they had to retire. No advance had been made on that particular part since that time, and consequently there had been no opportunity of clearing the battlefield, and identifying the dead. Of course until such identification it was just within the realms of possibility that Happs or any other man may have been wounded, and taken prisoner, but he was afraid that he had been killed in action. He was more sorry than he could say for his wife and parents and he was sure Mr. Dargue would convey to them his real sympathy.–Mr. Dargue said he had had many letters from Private Percy Happs, in which he spoke with great appreciation of the officers and teachers of their Sunday School. All four soldiers were men of upright character and clean life, and were honest good men, and they were sorrowful because of their early passing from them. He was quite sure the members of his congregation would wish him to express their deepest sympathy with the parents and relatives.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
23 November 1917
FREEMAN – Killed in action, Nov. 5th, Corporal B. Freeman, Canadian Regiment, son [husband] of Mrs. Ben Freeman, of Skipton Road, Farnhill.
23 November 1917
FARNHILL
LANCE-CORPORAL B. FREEMAN KILLED IN ACTION
Mrs. Ben Freeman of Skipton Road, Farnill, received the sad news on Saturday last that her husband, Lance-Corpl. B. Freeman, of the Canadian Regiment, had been killed in action on Nov. 5th. Corpl. B.H. Freeman enlisted in Canada two yeas ago, and went to France in May of this year. He was married shortly before proceeding to the front. Much sympathy is felt for Mrs. Freeman. Before her marriage Mrs. Freeman (Miss Maggie Hartley) until recently acted as post-woman for Kildwick and Farnhill. She is also a member of the Kildwick church choir and of the local Dramatic Society. Mrs. Freeman received the following, letter from Company Sergeant Major F. Williams, ‘A’ Co., Canadian Battalion :– “Dear Mrs. Freeman – It grieved me to have to write regarding the death of your husband, Lance-Corpl. B. Freeman, who was killed in action on the evening of the 5th. Ben was in my company and was always a very fine fellow, popular with everyone, officers, N.C.O.’s and men. I cannot find words to express to you the deepest sympathy of all in your sad bereavement. He is a great loss to the regiment, and will be mourned by us all. There was nothing we could do for him, as his death was instantaneous, caused by shell fire. I was with him when the unfortunate affair occurred. You will be notified by our senior officers regarding his burial place. Once again kindly accept our very deepest sympathy – officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the regiment.”
30 November 1917
SKIPTON
LANCE-CORPORAL B. FREEMAN
The above is a portrait of Lance-Corporal B. Freeman, of the Canadian Regiment, whose death in action was reported last week. He was the husband of Mrs. Freeman, of Skipton Road, Farnhill. The photograph was taken in Canada when the deceased was a sergeant. On the way over all the N.C.O.’s were made privates, but since then Lance-Corporal Freeman has received two stripes.
15 February 1918
CROSSHILLS
MEMORIAL SERVICE – On Sunday evening last a memorial service was conducted in the Wesleyan Church by Rev. Thomas Dargue (superintendent minister). Special hymns were sung, and the anthem ‘What are these?’ was given by the choir, under the leadership of Miss Thornton, of Sutton. The opening hymn was ‘Give me the wings of faith to rise.’ Prior to the sermon, Mr. Dargue referred to the trials of life which came to the human family, but that which struck hardest, he remarked, was that which took men from their homes and family. Four young men who had gone through their Sunday-school had passed from them. Private Benjamin Freeman, of the Canadian Regiment, was killed on November 5th; Private G. Inskip, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, was killed on November 27th; Private Arthur Happs, of the Durham Light Infantry, had been missing since April 21st, all hope of his being alive has gone. Private Percy Happs, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who had been missing since the 26th of April, only four days after his brother, and of whom special enquiries had been made through their chief chaplain, who gave little hope of his being taken prisoner, and the fears entertained of his death were probably true. He offered his sympathy and hoped that consolation might be found in knowing that they died bravely for the good of the world. Mr. Dargue also referred to the good characters of the deceased, and expressed the sympathy of the church with the parents and those who had suffered loss in the passing of these four young men. Mr. Dargue’s discourse was based upon the words taken from the 21st chapter of Revelation, 23rd verse, “And the lamb is the light thereof.” Often, he remarked, he had asked why the innocent suffered with the guilty, and why did not something happen to the men who had brought this calamity upon them, which had been the cause of so many lives being lost? In the city where our loved ones in Christ had gone, the mystery was made clear and straight, for the city was God illuminated. He was the light, and the light gave full knowledge to those who had passed into the homeland. The service closed with the hymn ‘For ever with the Lord.’
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