- ThomasHenry
- FREEMAN
- K8956
Stoker 1st Class
- WW1
- Navy
- Royal Navy
- HMS New Zealand
- None
- 12th November 1914
- 21
- Unknown
- Commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, England, Panel 3.
- Unknown
- Unknown
Son of Charles Freeman, 4 Star Yard, Bransford Rd., St. John’s, Worcester
FREEMAN Thomas Henry Is Named On These Memorials
Further Information About FREEMAN Thomas Henry
Additional information on the memorial: A.B. HMS “New Zealand”
Thomas Freeman is first mentioned in the Parish News in September 1914. He drowned, aged 21, on 12th November 1914 after accidentally falling overboard whilst trying to get into the picket boat. It was dark and by the time a searchlight was found, he was lost. He is also noted in Parish News as 19 Lechmere Crescent.
Additional information researched and transcribed by Hallow History Group: http://www.hallowhistory.org.uk
Link still valid 11th November 2017.
Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for navy casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.
HMS New Zealand was an Indefatigable Class Battlecruiser. Built at Fairfield, she was launched in November 1912 and saw action throughout WW1 including the Battle of Heliogoland Bight, the Battle of Dogger Bank the Battle of Jutland. She was sold for scrap in 1922. Only 20 crew members were lost during the war and immediately after, six were lost due to drowning incidents and the remaining fourteen due to illness. None of the crew were killed as a result of enemy action.
Thomas Freeman has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Plymouth Naval Memorial.