Remembering 331013, A.C.2, Frank Oliver Freeman, R.A.F., 27th Dec.,1919.

[RFT]

Remembering the eighth of 47 Squadron's South Russia Casualties.

 

100 Years ago, 27th Dec., 1919.

Remembering 331013, A.C.2, Frank Oliver Freeman, R.A.F.

Aged 20 years.

 

Careless record keeping, in part, may have contributed to 189 personnel records (from nos. 330891 to 331080, issued to civilian recruits March to Aug.,1919) being withheld from public scrutiny.  The names of at least 13 airmen (from 47 Squadron) feature among these missing and/or unavailable records and which has seriously hampered research.  Nonetheless, one or two entries appertaining to Frank Oliver Freeman have been located among extant squadron records.

 

331013, A.C.2, Frank Oliver Freeman likely entered the R.A.F. sometime between March and May, 1919, in readiness for the Squadron's departure in Jun.,1919.  Squadron records provide confirmation that A.C.2, Freeman, ("General Clerk") along with 175 other ranks disembarked the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, 9th Jul., 1919.  Paraded ashore for roll call, a couple of hours later the party of men, headed by their C.O., Major Raymond Collishaw, were then marched to a string of cattle trucks to endure a two day trip to the Squadron's aerodrome, a field situated about 2 miles outside the town of Ekaterinodar.  Thereafter, the Squadron's activities are generally well documented but, regretfully, of Frank Oliver Freeman, nothing more, other than date and place of death, is recorded.

 

Extracted from the Squadron War Diary (for Dec., 1919) -

"24th Dec.,1919. Headquarters and  'A' Flight left Popasnaya and returned to Krinichnaya."  

Casualties - "No. 331013, A.C.2, Freeman, F. O., died at Krinichnaya, 27-12-1919."

 

According to the C.W.G.C. Grave Registration Reports - A.C.2, Freeman died of "Sickness" but an entry in the R.A.F. Casualty Cards cites "Typhus" - The second of 47 Squadron's four victims to succumb from this dreadful disease.  Seemingly buried in a small or isolated cemetery, Mr Freeman's body was later exhumed for reburial at Sevastopol British Cemetery. 

 

Frank Oliver Freeman, son of John William & Kezia Agnes Freeman, 8 Middle Row, Chipping Norton, Oxon.

Remembered with Honour at the Haidar Pasha Memorial, Turkey.

Commemorated on the Chipping Norton War Memorial.

(Dedicated to those who died in the Wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45)

[Becstar]