Harold Freeman - Lest We Forget

Harold Freeman was born June 6, 1896 at port Essington, B.C. He was the son of Rev. Barnabas Cartland Freeman and Ida Freeman. Rev. B. C. Freeman was the Methodist minister for Revelstoke from 1916 to 1918. Harold had at least one brother, Fred, who also signed up in the spring of 1918 for duty in the war. He had a sister, Kathleen, who was a school teacher. There may also have been another daughter, Doreen, attending Selkirk School during the war years at the time Rev. Freeman was with the Methodist Church. Harold was working as a schoolteacher at the time of his enlistment.

Harold Freeman signed his enlistment papers on July 3, 1916 at Vancouver. His regimental number was 911994. The local newspaper said he intended to join the 196th University Battalion. Harold was 20 years old, single, 5’ 6” tall with brown hair and brown eyes. His religious affiliation was Methodist. The University battalion was based at Camp Hughes, Manitoba where Harold did his basic training.

Harold Freeman died on April 13, 1917 during the battle for Vimy Ridge. He was 22 years old. At the time of his death he was a Private with the 46th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan) Regiment. His body was never found or identified and his name is memorialized on the Vimy Memorial in France. His name appears on both the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques.