Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Freer, a plumber, born 31st March 1863 in Shoulder of Mutton Cottage, Leicester and his wife Elizabeth Freer (nee Jordan, married on the 10th June 1886 in St. John the Divine Church, Leicester), born 1864 in Leicester. John William, a schoolboy, was born on the 30th December 1887 in Leicester and baptised on the 4th March 1888 in Holy Trinity Church, Leicester, his siblings were, Kate, a schoolgirl, born 1st January 1887 and baptised on the 6th February 1887 in Holy Trinity Church, Leicester and Ethel Elizabeth, born 28th June 1889 and baptised on the 21st August 1889 in Holy Trinity Church, Leicester, both his siblings were born in Leicester, also residing in the family home was his widowed maternal Grandmother, Catherine Jordan, living on her own means, born 1825 in Leicester Forest East, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at 8, Crescent Street, Leicester. John’s Mother died in the 4th quarter of 1894, aged 30 in Leicester. On the 31st March 1898 John’s father married Emily Throsby in Holy Trinity Church, Leicester. In March 1901 John was absent from the family home at 38, Wellington Street, Leicester, residing there was his father, a plumber and heating engineer, his step mother Emily, born 31st March 1861 in Leicester and siblings, Kate, Ethel, Dorothy Ada, born 4th July 1891 and baptised on the 13th September 1891 in Holy Trinity Church, Leicester, Thomas Henry, born 23rd October 1892 and baptised on the 18th December 1892 in Holy Trinity Church, Leicester, and his half-blood siblings, Harold, born 18th September 1899 and baptised on the 22nd October 1899 in Holy Trinity Church, Leicester and Edith, born 1901 and baptised on the 13th February 1901 in Holy Trinity Church, Leicester, the latter four siblings were all born in Leicester, John was a pupil boarder at Market Bosworth Grammar School, Leicestershire. In April 1911 John was employed as a sanitary and heating engineer and was residing in the family home at 104, New Walk, Leicester, together with his father, a sanitary and heating engineer, his step mother and siblings Kate, a typist, Dorothy, a draper’s shop assistant, Thomas, a plumber’s apprentice, and half-blood siblings, Harold, a schoolboy, Edith, a schoolgirl and George, a schoolboy, born 1903, in Leicester. John’s father died on the 1st August 1944, aged 81 at 104, New Walk, Leicester and his step mother died on the 22nd August 1948, aged 87 at 104, New Walk, Leicester.
John’s Army attestation and enlistment documents for his period of Territorial Army service with the Leicestershire Royal Horse Artillery survive in good condition and are reproduced below, however the record of his war service does not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Yeomanry, being allotted the service number 2135 and the rank of Private, he was then commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant into the Leicestershire Regiment on the 2nd November 1914 and subsequently posted to the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France during 1915, attaining the rank of Lieutenant.
John enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 4th June 1910 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 173. He gave his place of birth as Leicester and age as 22 years 6 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as draughtsman in his father’s employment. He gave his present address as 104, New Walk, Leicester.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 4th June 1910 and recorded his apparent age as 22 years 6 months, that he was 5-feet 8 inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 36 and 38 inches, his vision was described as good and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, William Freer, 104, New Walk, Leicester.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Leicester. 4/6/10.
Preliminary Training. 4/6/10.
Posted. Leicestershire R.H.A. Gunner. 4/6/10 – 30/3/12.
Annual Training. Leicestershire R.H.A. Okehampton. 31/7/10 – 14/8/10.
Annual Training. Salisbury Plain. ?/?/11.
Promoted. Bombardier. 31/3/12 – 2/8/12.
Promoted. Corporal 3/8/12 – 31/3/13.
Promoted. Sergeant. 1/4/13 – 3/6/14.
Annual Training. Salisbury Plain. ?/?/13.
Discharged. In consequence of Termination of Engagement. 3/6/14.
Total service towards Engagement in the Territorial Force to 3/6/14 (date of discharge) 4 years – days.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 4/6/10 - 3/6/14. 4 years.
Total Service. 4 years.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 28 Jun-15 – GALLIPOLI PENINSULA. Heavy bombardment of Turkish trenches by our artillery commenced at 9.00am. Battalion left bivouac near 86th Brigade Dump at 11.00am and started to advance from GEOGHANS BLUFF at 11.30am, by which time the 87th Brigade had taken J10, J11, and a trench known as the BOOMERANG, The Battalion consisted of 3 Companies “X,” “Y,” “Z.” “Z” Company was to take J12, “X” Company was to go through “Z” Company in J12 and was then to form to the right and dig in to protect the right flank, while “Y” Company was to take J13, and then to detach a platoon to take high ground beyond J13. The attack was successful, and the position consolidated. Hand to hand fighting took place during the night at those ends of J12 and J13 where the Turks held part of the trench and we held the rest. During the advance on the morning of the 28th instant most of the casualties were caused by shrapnel fire and few from bullet wounds. “Z” Company was relieved at about 11.30pm 28th instant in J13 by 6th GURKHA RIFLES.
The War Diary records: 29 Jun-15 – GALLIPOLI PENINSULA. The remainder of the Battalion was relieved by the Indian Brigade during the day. The Battalion marched back to GURKHA BLUFF and in the evening marched back to bivouac in the Nala near ESKI LINES. The men for the most part were in a terribly exhausted condition having had 24 hours of fighting under the most trying conditions with very little water. The heat was very trying. Casualties during action of 28th – 29th.
Killed. Officers 3. Other Ranks 29
Captain FITZ CLARENCE. Captain AYRTON. 2nd Lieutenant ANDREWS.
Wounded. Officers 3. Other Ranks 175.
2nd Lieutenant’s BULBECK, FREER and HARFORD.
Missing. Officers 3. Other Ranks 57.
Captain GUDGEON. Lieutenant EUSTACE. 2nd Lieutenant WILLETT.
Effective Strength: 3 Officers. 412 Other ranks.
On Saturday 3rd July 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – LIEUT. J. W. FREER KILLED. – An Old Westleigh Footballer. – We regret to learn that an official intimation has been received by Mr. William Freer, Wellington-street, Leicester, that his eldest son, Lieut. John William Freer, died of wounds at the Dardanelles on June 29th. Lieut. Freer, who was 27 years of age, served for four years in the Leicestershire Royal Horse Artillery, taking his discharge at the completion of his term of service in May last year. Shortly after the outbreak of war he re-enlisted in the Leicestershire Yeomanry, and was gazetted second lieutenant in the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on October 23rd. receiving his second star on December 1st. He formed one of a party of four officers to take out a detachment of the 1st Royal Inniskilling’s to the Dardanelles, sailing on Whit Monday, May 21st, and on arriving there was attached to the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers City of London Regiment. He was well known locally in connection with Rugby football, having been an active member of the Westleigh Club for many years. Occasionally he played for the Tigers. Much sympathy will be felt with the members of his family in their bereavement.
On Thursday 15th July 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Old Newtonians’ Roll of Honour. Nearly 300 old boys of Alderman Newton’s School are known to be serving with the colours. A complete list has been prepared and printed for private circulation, “With the best wishes and heartiest greetings to the Old Newtonians who are serving their King and Country in defence of honour.” The following Old Newtonians have fallen:-
HUNT, A. D., 12th Lancers, Mons, Aug. 28, 1914.
RICHARDSON, J. T., H.M.S. Good Hope.
FIELDING, Lieut., 1st Sherwood Foresters.
ASHWELL, F., Sergt. K.R.R., Tryon, Sept., 1914.
PRATT, H.
ADAMS, C. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
HOPKINS, J. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
MATTHEWS, F. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
HOLMES, H., Lnc-Cpl., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
FLETCHER, Wm., Sergt., 2nd Leicester’s, 15th May, 1915.
FREER, J. W., Lieut., Dardanelles.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
John Freer was a member of Westleigh Rugby Club. He played four matches in the pack for the Leicester Tigers' first team in 1907-08.
https://royalleicestershireregiment.org.uk/entity/89583-freer-john-william?q=