Pte AJ Freemantle

 

Albert James Freemantle was born on 4 December 1898, the son of James Freemantle, born in Kingsclere, and Ellen Cox who were married in 1890 and lived initially with her widowed father James Cox at Pithers Cottages in Union Road, Bradfield. James Cox previously lived in North Street and was born in Englefield. At the time of Albert’s birth the Freemantles were living in Theale.

 

Ellen Freemantle died two months after giving birth, on 9 February 1899, and the baby was taken in by his mother’s elder sister Charlotte who was married to James Martin and lived at 44 Chalkpit Cottages. No further record of James Freemantle can be found and the military record of Albert’s death at the age of 19 shows him as the adopted son of James Martin; he was generally known in the village as “Bertie” Martin. As a boy, Albert sang in the church choir and a photograph in the church of the choir in about 1910 surely shows a younger version of this face.

 

The Military Service Act introduced in January 1916 introduced conscription and no more volunteers were taken. As he did not become 18 until the end of 1916 Albert Freemantle would have been conscripted under the Act and was “called-up” in March 1917. Under the system introduced by the Act recruits did not join a specific infantry regiment but were posted to a Training Reserve battalion. After completing training they were sent to any regiment that needed men at the time. In May 1917 the Training Reserve battalions were redesignated “Young Soldier” or “Graduated” battalions and once more aligned with particular regiments. Three such battalions were designated Devonshire Regiment from 27 October 1917 and Albert may have trained with one of these as it is known that he did serve with the Devonshires.

 

He may have been intended for the Devonshires after training but by this stage of the War none of their Service Battalions was in France and there would have been a pressing need for reinforcements to the Western Front to repel the great German Spring Offensive of 1918. This may be why at the time of his death Albert was serving in 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (not the Royal Berkshire Regiment as the inscription on the war memorial states).

 

In October 1918 the 1st Inniskillings were on the left flank of the British line in Belgium some 30 miles north east of Ypres, part of the Second Army involved in the crossing of the River Lys and the advance to the Scheldt. On 19 and 20 October the battalion made several unsuccessful efforts to capture the village of Dries and on 21 October were relieved by the 12th Royal Irish Rifles. After a day of rest the battalion moved into the line again to take part in a general attack at 0900 on 25 October. They came under heavy machine gun fire throughout the day and at 2210 that night were ordered to consolidate the line they had then reached. On the two days patrols were sent out and on the second day it was found possible to advance the whole line, albeit under heavy machine gun fire. On the night of 27 October the battalion was relieved by the 2/4 Queen’s Royal West Surreys.

 

It is probable that Albert Freemantle was one of the 87 other ranks wounded during this period (22 were killed and 18 missing) and although described as seriously wounded he was initially said to be “doing well, showing signs of recovery and hoping to be sent home”. However, he succumbed to his wounds on 28 October 1918 and is buried in the Terlincthun British cemetery, Wimille. He is also commemorated on the grave of his adoptive mother Charlotte Martin, who died shortly before he did, in the churchyard.