7th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
13/08/1888
Died:
05/09/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
28
Summary
Samuel Freeman was the son of Samuel Freeman and Mary Freeman. He was born on 13th August 1888 in Coleraine. It is believed he was the eldest of eight children. Samuel’s father was a railway employee, which may be the reason the family moved around so much. By 1901, the family were living between Cookstown and Moneymore. When the family moved on to Belfast, Samuel remained. He enlisted using his mother’s maiden name, Moore. Private Samuel Moore was serving with the 7th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Tuesday 5th September 1916.
Further Information
Samuel Freeman was the son of Samuel Freeman and Mary Freeman. Samuel Freeman and Mary Moore were married on 29th January 1886 in the district of Coleraine.
Samuel Freeman was born on 13th August 1888 in Coleraine. It is believed he was the eldest of eight children, seven surviving.
Samuel’s father was a railway employee, which may be the reason the family moved around so much.
The 1901 census lists Samuel as age 13, living with the family at house 3 in Ballyforlea, Moneyhaw, County Londonderry. He was still at school.
Family: Samuel Freeman, Mary Jane Freeman, Samuel Freeman (born 13th August 1888, Coleraine), Hugh Moore Freeman (born 21st January 1891, Dervock), Henry Freeman (born 16th June 1892, Coleraine), Francis Moore Freeman (born about 1895, Dervock), Sophia Freeman (born 22nd June 1897, Ballymoney), Eliza Jane Freeman (born about 1898), Joshua Buchanan Freeman (born 15th August 1899, Clough Ballymena), Edith Jurline White / Mary Freeman (born 25th February 1903, Moneymore).
The 1911 census does not list Samuel as living with the family at house 29 in Marine Street, Duncairn Ward, Belfast.
The 1911 census lists Samuel as age 23, a servant at house 4 in Lismoney, Moneyhaw, County Londonderry. He was working and living with William Conn, a blacksmith.
Samuel Moore enlisted in Randalstown, County Antrim, using his mother’s maiden name.
Samuel Moore joined the 7th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
After considerable training they were taken to France and by September 1916 were close to Combles. On the 5th September they were to attack and take a trench which ran from Leuze Wood to Combles. At 4.00pm ‘B’ Company advanced in two lines followed by ‘C’ company in similar formation. They advanced about 800 yards and met comparatively little opposition until they found themselves held up by very thick and uncut barbed wire. As they attempted to break through this they were met by a withering fire from enemy machine-guns. They then attempted to dig in where they were. ‘A’ and ‘D’ companies were moved up but despite repeated gallant attempts they were unable to break through the wire. During this attack the battalion lost forty two men.
For considerable time Samuel Moore was officially reported as missing after this attack.
His father Samuel Freeman had made numerous enquiries to the ‘War Office’ and for a long time little was known.
Private Samuel Moore was serving with the 7th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers and it was later confirmed that he was killed in action on Tuesday 5th September 1916.
Private Samuel Moore is buried in plot 6- row D- grave 4 at Combles Cemetery, France.
Samuel Moore is commemorated on Moneymore War Memorial under his own name as Private S M Freeman.
The CWGC record Private Samuel Moore as the son of Samuel and Mary Freeman of Muff, Cookstown, County Tyrone.
