Use the below links to display a list of men by surname that appears on the War Memorial.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Or by date of death (will not display all names).
| 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 |
Harry was the second of Thomas and Eliza Freeman's seven children. Shortly after his birth the family moved to the Bromley area, eventually settling in Penge. Harry married Margaret Mary Betts at Croydon Registry Office on 5th August 1911, they had two sons Fred and Thomas. Thomas died when he was 10 months old.
Harry enlisted in the Royal West Kents on 12th September 1914. He was 5ft 8ins tall, weighed 143lbs and had light brown hair. He had clasped hands tattooed on the back of his right wrist and three intertwined fishes on his left forearm. He was posted to the Carnoy area of the Somme, just south of Arras, on 25th May 1915. This was a relatively quiet period due to the lack of ammunition on both sides. However by the end of September his battalion had moved up to Loos where heavy fighting occurred. The battalion were relived on 14th October being allowed a well-earned rest at Verquin. Following the Battle of Loos there was a lull in fighting for the Royal West Kents however they now found themselves in chalk trenches where the heavy rain didn't drain away resulting in deep sticky mud immobilising the men. On 25th February 1916 the Battalion started their march to Arras, this would become known as "The Moscow March" because of the raging blizzard and the horribly slippery conditions caused by snow and ice. By 4th March they were in position. The following four months were relatively quiet. Harry experienced heavy fighting during the Battle of the Somme losing his life during the failed attempt to take Falfemont Farm on 3rd September.
Harry was a member of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Loyal "Orphans' Friend" Lodge who met at the Beech Tree Hotel London Road, this is probably why he is on the Bromley War Memorial.
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