Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Three: Able Seaman W. A. Freeman, Royal Navy, who was killed when H.M.S. Hampshire struck a mine and sank off the Orkneys, 5 June 1916
1914-15 Star (J.7559, W. A. Freeman, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.7559 W. A. Freeman. A.B. R.N.)

Three: Able Seaman A. J. Freeman, Royal Navy, who was killed when the H.M.S. Bulwark exploded, 26 November 1914
1914-15 Star (J.22277, A. J. Freeman, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.22277 A. J. Freeman. A.B. R.N.) good very fine (6) £300-£400

William Arthur Freeman was born in Chichester, Sussex, on 18 January 1894, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 14 March 1910. He joined H.M.S. Hampshire as an Able Seaman on 27 January 1914, and was killed in action when the Hampshire, conveying Field Marshal Lord Kitchener on a diplomatic mission to Russia, struck a German mine off the Orkneys on 5 June 1916, and sank within 15 minutes with the loss of 737 lives. There were only 12 survivors. He was aged 22 and is remembered with honour on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea.

Albert John Freeman was born in Chichester, Sussex, on 11 November 1895, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 27 January 1913. He joined H.M.S. Bulwark as a Boy 1st Class on 4 October 1913, was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in November 1913, and to Able Seaman in October 1914. He was killed when the Bulwark blew up in unexplained circumstances on the Medway, near Sheerness, with the loss of over 700 lives. During the Great War the Royal Navy lost 4 ships to internal explosions whilst lying in harbour, the other three being, H.M. Ships Natal, Princess Irene and Vanguard. At the time there was much speculation that these losses were due to sabotage by enemy agents. However, the more likely explanation is that they were the result of the deterioration of the stocks of high explosives carried on board. Only fourteen men survived the sinking of H.M.S. Bulwark. Albert John Freeman was one of the few bodies recovered from the incident and is buried in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. He was 19 years of age. The two brothers were the sons of Richard and Fanny Freeman of 52, Oving Road, Portfield, Chichester, and are both commemorated on the Portfield War Memorial.