William was born on 2nd December 1907 in Thame, the son of Henry and Jane Freeman, (nee Hall) of 3 Chinnor Road, Thame, and baptised at St Mary’s on 27th January 1907. He was a grocer’s assistant in January 1932 when he married Ethel Johnson at St Mary’s church, Thame.

They went to live at 48 Bailey Road, Cowley, where they had a son Alan H. William was employed at Grimbly Hughes & Co Ltd, grocers in Oxford. In 1939 Henry and Jane were living at 43 Chinnor Road, Thame.

William joined the army early in WW2 and served as a Private with the 6th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment. In November 1942 the battalion was with the 36th Infantry Brigade, 78th Division that landed near Algiers as part of Operation Torch.

By March 1943, the battalion was in action near Medjez al Bab, during the final push to Tunis, which is probably where William received his fatal wounds. William Freeman died of wounds on 31st March 1943.

5510504 Private William Freeman, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment is buried in Tabarka Ras Rajel War Cemetery, Tunisia. He is remembered on the grave of his parents in St Mary’s church yard and his name is to be added to Thame war memorial.