“Our Waimate correspondent writes : The news of the sudden death, of Gunner Tom Freeman, of Waimate, on the 17th instant, was received at Waimate with much regret, and deep sympathy is felt with his mother, brothers and sisters. He served some months in the Second New Zealand Contingent in South Africa, being invalided home about eighteen months ago from the effects of enteric fever. Not tired or afraid of a soldier's life and its hardships, he offered his services as a member of the Eighth Contingent now preparing for South Africa, but his medical certificate was not sufficient. He joined the New Zealand Permanent Artillery some time ago, and was serving in that capacity at the time of his death at the Heathcote camp last Friday morning. He was only 23 years of age. The Waimate Rifles, Studholme Mounted Rifles, Oddfellows, and Masons, joined in procession at his funeral, from the residence of his mother, and St. Augustine's Church, to the Waimate cemetery.” [Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11660, 20 January 1902, Page 2]