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B.5883 (B.430031) Lance Sergeant
CECIL FREDERICK FREEMAN
(Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal Canadian Artillery,
Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps and
Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)

by
ã Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis, 2000

Introduction

The information provided in this research work has been taken almost exclusively from the service papers of Lance Sergeant Freeman as they were received from the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa. Unfortunately, the service papers of World War 2 soldiers are heavily redacted for privacy reasons; therefore much of the personal information is not legible in the papers. Personal information dealing with the soldier’s family, his physical description, addresses and next of kin has been "blacked out" on the papers.

Early Life

Cecil Frederick Freeman was the son of Kenneth Gerald and Annie J. Freeman of Toronto, Ontario [*]. It may be safe to assume that Cecil was born about 1918. This assumption is based on the fact that he enlisted in the Active Militia of Canada in 1928 and was probably 18 years old when he did so.

Enlistments and Postings

As noted above, Freeman served in the Active Militia of Canada prior to his enlistment in the Canadian Active Service Force (C.A.S.F.) for service in World War 2. The following table provides a summary of his enlistments and transfers between 1928 and 1952. His total service extended over a period of 24 years, with about a six year gap between 1934 and 1940. His total time of 18 years was served in six different Corps or Regiments.

Promotions and Appointments

The highest rank held by Freeman during his time in the Canadian Active Service Force, was that of Acting Sergeant. Following World War 2, he enlisted in the Queen’s York Rangers and rose to the rank of Sergeant. The following table summarizes the ranks he held and the dates that these ranks became effective:

Education and Training

Freeman received basic training as an engineer soldier and as a gunner. It appears that he had technical skills as a welder that were found to be of greater value to the Army than his skills as a sapper or gunner. These skills prompted his assignment to the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps and subsequently to the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for the duration of World War 2. In addition to this basic training, Freeman attended a course in Armour Plate Welding from the 3^rd to the 18^th of May 1943 while serving with the R.C.E.M.E. in England.

Qualifications

Freeman qualified repeatedly as a welder and was granted trades pay for his skills. The following table shows the qualifications he earned during his time in service.

Home and Overseas Service

The following table presents a summary of Freeman’s postings during his time in service during and following World War 2:

Freeman’s overseas service was reckoned from the 11^th of December 1942 to the 30^th of August 1945. His service in the theatre of operations of the war was from the 30^th of July 1944 to the 3^rd of August 1945. His war service was in France and North West Europe with armoured troops and specifically with tank recovery units and workshops.

For his service during the war he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, and the War Medal.

Furloughs and Leave

Freeman’s records show that he was only granted two periods of furlough or leave during his time in service. He was granted a furlough with pay on the 21^st of April 1942 while at Kingston, Ontario. The duration of this furlough is not specified in his service papers. He was also granted 30 days of disembarkation leave in Toronto after his return from England after World War 2 and prior to his discharge from the Army.

[*] See the research work on his father, 451413 Sapper Kenneth Gerald Freeman, Canadian Engineers, also prepared by the author.