Harry has a surviving medal card as well as his service record which explains how he died through an accident whilst on duty at Kantara. His death is noted in the Commonwealth War Graves Book under Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
Freer. Pte. Henry 18589. 54th (East Anglia) Div. Cyclist Coy. Army Cyclist Coy, attd. 1st/5th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borders. Accidentally killed 15th March 1918. Age 24. Son of Henry and Sarah Jane Freer, of 9, Alliance Terrace, Wellingborough, Northants. Grave C. 154.
Freer. Pte. Henry 18589. 54th (East Anglia) Div. Cyclist Coy. Army Cyclist Coy, attd. 1st/5th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borders. Accidentally killed 15th March 1918. Age 24. Son of Henry and Sarah Jane Freer, of 9, Alliance Terrace, Wellingborough, Northants. Grave C. 154.
It shows the emblem of the Regt.
The inscription reads
Army Cyclist Corps
18589 Private
H. FREER
ARMY CYCLIST CORPS
15th MARCH 1918 AGE 24
Lower inscription reads
EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS
Harry is also listed under A Noble Six Hundred - H. Freer.
Under the listing of wreaths placed at the War Memorial it notes.
Pte. H. Freer (Army Cyclist Corps), from Mother, Dad, Sister and Brothers
Under the listing of wreaths placed at the War Memorial it notes.
Pte. H. Freer (Army Cyclist Corps), from Mother, Dad, Sister and Brothers
A Letter I would have written to Harry.
22nd March 2013
Pte. Harry Freer 54, Cyclists Corps 1894 - 15.03.1918
Dear Harry.
I wonder what led to your family photograph and silk embroidery to your Mother
(hidden behind a photo frame brought in France many years later) from World War One.
I wonder if you placed them there hoping one day that your precious items would
eventually be re-united with your loved ones in “Blighty”.
If that was your wish Harry then it has nearly been accomplished after so very, many years.
Through the Rootschat forum and another Rootschatter who asked about you in
June of 2009 the jigsaw is nearly complete.
I have a topic myself asking for photographs, information, etc on the Northamptonshire Board
and amazingly I still get offers of personal items regularly, therefore I gratefully appreciate
the Rootschatters who have assisted me and now your family.
I was intrigued by your story and this is what led to me being custodian, until now, of the 2
treasures hidden away all those years ago.
I have tried endless avenues over the time that I was given the items in September 2009 to re-
unite them with any remaining relatives you still had Harry.
These relatives would obviously not be known to you because of your un-timely death in
WW1 losing your own life 15 March 1918 (now over 95 years).
How many Mothers, Fathers, Son, Daughters, Nieces and Nephews, Aunts and Uncles
etc, lost their loved ones over the 4 year period like yourself and later through the War and
beyond. I could never imagine the heart-ache and grief that must have been suffered the
World over.
I do know that it has been a huge struggle over the last 2 years to find any links to your
family Harry, then just a month ago I found a link to your loved ones through your Service
Record, I then wrote letters to what I hoped was 3 living relatives.
I wonder if you could image the dis-appointment I felt when I got no replies for awhile.
I watched the letter box every day, hoping just one letter would get me an answer so I
could return your priceless keepsakes. I received one letter in reply, but it did not help.
My husband told me not to give up after trying for so long but I am afraid the time came
when I felt I could do no more and would have to place your mementoes in a Museum.
It was not a decision I took lightly, but at least someone would be able to see your family
photo and also the wonderful embroidery you stitched, (like so many others) to your Mother.
Other Rootchatters on the forum recently assisted me in enhancing your photo Harry, to
whom I am extremely grateful.
My Husband also did a copy for me, and today I took it to a museum with a copy of your
silk embroidery. The Museum said that wanted to laminate them so could not
use the original items.
How very glad I was Harry, because today I received a letter from a family member
of one of your siblings. They thanked me for writing to the relative who passed
the letter on and would welcome the items etc.
I wonder yet again Harry, whether all those years ago, if that is what you really hoped for,
obviously we will never know.
I also wonder if without the Rootschat Forum which has such dedicated people assisting
others in all manner of ways that this story would have the happy ending that will now
happen because of someone finding your memories and they being returned to England.
It has been a privilege Harry never having known you, yet becoming close to you as a
Mother of 2 sons myself, to have been involved in your story.
I can feel the pride your Mother would have felt if she had known of the wonderful tribute
you stitched and will be delighted to return it to your own sisters family member.
I personally would like to thank Rootschat for allowing me to be part of what has been a
successful end to a moving story which may never have begun without the internet, the
forum, and then a topic asking for assistance to re-unite your belongings.
You can take heart now Harry and know your treasures have reached across the seas and will
be truly where they belong, back with the Freer family.
Sandy
May 8th 2013
I would never have thought Harry that you would relate into my own family tree,
although it is a distance link, a link it most certainly is.
My Great Grand Aunt Lydia Eady’s husband George Henry Butler had a half sister Mary
Emily Butler who married William H Heaton and their daughter Emma married your
brother Percy.
I therefore think maybe it was fate that your priceless mementos arrived through the post
to me. I will never know, but I am so glad to know that you are a distant relative of mine.
Sandy