Page 10 - WW1 - 1915
P. 10
Remembering Redditch Residents & WW1 Redditch Local History Society
Ancestry site Military records
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Private George Joseph Hartopp, (1285), 2 Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, born
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and resided in Redditch, enlisted in Coventry, died of wounds, 15 January 1915, Western
European Theatre. Mentioned Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Belgium.)
Private George Joseph Hartopp – source: www.findagrave.com
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Birmingham Daily Post – Saturday 16 January 1915
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Redditch Man Wounded – Private A. Freeman of the 2 Worcestershire Regiment,
and formerly of Redditch, has been wounded. In a letter to his relatives he describes the
severe fighting in which his regiment took part. Referring to one action he says: “Two of our
companies went through a wood, and when we got to the bottom of it the Germans opened
fire at us with their big guns. I thought my time had come. The Germans retired, and you
should have seen the sight – men lying with head, legs or arms blown off. It was enough to
make one’s hair turn gray.” Private Freeman was wounded when making a bayonet charge,
but he adds: “I am glad to say I fetched one German off his horse just before I got hit.
Page: 10 © RLHS 2014
