John Freeman (VC)

John Freeman VC (1833 – 1 July 1913) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

John Freeman
Born	1833 Sittingbourne, Kent
Died	1 July 1913 (aged 79–80) Hackney, London
Buried	Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Rank	Private
Unit	9th Lancers
Battles / wars	Indian Mutiny
Awards	Victoria Cross

Background

John Freeman was born in Sittingbourne, Kent in 1833.^[1] He died in Hackney, east London on 1 July 1913 and was buried in Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington.^[1]

Military career

Freeman was approximately 25 years old, and a private in the 9th Lancers (The Queen's Royal) Regiment, British Army during the Indian Mutiny when he was awarded the VC for an act of conspicuous bravery at Agra.

The despatch from Major-General Sir James Hope Grant, KCB, dated 8 April 1858 reads:

"For conspicuous gallantry on the 10th of October, 1857, at Agra, in having gone to the assistance of Lieutenant Jones, who had been shot, killing the leader of the enemy's cavalry, and defending Lieutenant Jones against several of the enemy."

^[2]

In The London Gazette dated 3 August 1858, the Nominal Return of Casualties, in action, in Her Majesty's Troops at Bareilly, on 5, 6 and 7 May 1858 indicates that Freeman was "dangerously wounded".^[3]

His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.