Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the only son of the late George Edwin Freestone, and his wife Bertha, who was the daughter of John Maddock. John was educated at The County Grammar School, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, and after leaving was employed as an apprentice at the Pytchley Garage. He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery on the 9th June 1915, and served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the 8th January 1916 . He died at No. 6 General Hospital, Rouen, France on the 3rd April 1918 from the wounds he received in action on the 28th March 1918. John was unmarried. Other sources show his unit as 176th Howitzer Brigade, “B” Battery. The 1901 census records, George E. Freestone, married and head of the family, a Shopkeeper (Pottery and Sweets) Feeble Minded, born 1852 in Market Harborough, Leics., and his wife Bertha, born 1869 in Clipston, Northants. The only child was, John G. W., born 1898 in Little Bowden, Northants. Also residing with the family were Henry Freestone, father, widower, Living on own Means, born 1818 in Newton Harcourt, Leics., and Millicent Maddock, sister in law, and an Assistant in a Pottery Shop, born 1873 in Clipston, Northants. The family were residing Stafford House, Northampton Road, Little Bowden, Northants. The 1911 census records, George Freestone, married 16 years and head of the family, of No Employment, and his wife Bertha, Assisting in the Business. The only child was Willie, a Schoolboy, also residing with the family was Millicent Maddocks, sister and a Shop Assistant. The family were residing at 93, Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leics.