A VICTORIA CROSS HERO

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 228, 21 June 1921, Page 6

A VICTORIA CROSS HERO

RETURN OF COLONEL B. C. FREYBERG THE CAREER OF “ A FIRSTCLASS FIGHTING MAN” . fi r3 t" c l [hs s fighting man" is probably how Kipling would classify Colonel Bernard C. Freyberg, C'.M.G.,. V.C., D. 5.0., who has returned to his homo in Wellington after "stirring incidents by flood and field" in many lands. An amazing career is that of Colonel Freyberg, who is the youngest son of the Late Mr. James Freyberg, of Wellington, timber expert. He was born in Redmond, Surrey, and came out io Wellington with his parents, when ho was a little over two years of age, which was nearly thirty years ago. He was educated at Wellington College, and later adopted dentistry as a profession. In Atarch, 1914, he left for San Francisco, but he tired of city life,'and sought relief by a trip into Mexico, where an internecene war was raging intermittently. Still, jt was something, and Freyberg got into it, and had some lively experiences. On the outbreak of the great war he at once left Mexico for England. Being of Surrey, he joined the Surrey Regiment, but ere they took the field, the Germans were ravaging Belgium. Antwerp sent out an S.O.S. call, and a Naval Division was sent across. Freyberg begged General G. S. Richardson to get him a place in the expeditionary force, and succeeded —none happier than he. In Belgium he was .everely wounded through coming in contact with a live wire that formed part of the outer defences of the ancient city on the Scheldt. On the retirement of the division from Antwerp—the Germans came in such overwhelming numbers that the city was not defondable-Freyberg was invalided to Ostend, and then to England. A Great Swim.

Colonel Freyberg was next heard of at Gallipoli, where, on April 25, 1915, he performed a deed of splendid gallantry that earned for him the He held the rank of heutenant-oom-mander in the Hood Battalion of the Royal Naval Division. According to an official statement: "He displayed conspicuous gallantry on April 25, _, „ the landing operations in the Gult of Neros He swam ashore, towing rafts with flares, and though alone reconnoitred the enemy's position, and swam back. He was over two hou J? water." By his action he led the Turks to believe that a landing was being made at that particular spot, and by diverting their attention he rendered conspicuous service. Wins the V.C. Now a lieutenant-colonel, he came infp prominence next in Franco at the Battle of the Aucre as the hero of a highly successful attack by the Naval Division He was there wounded four times, and was the subject of a chorus of eulogy bv all the war correspondents on the sector. One declared: "Seldom has there been a case where success was so clearly due to one man’s personality. For the valour he displayed he was awarded the Victoria Cross in the following terms: "For most conspicuous bravery and brilliant leading as a battalion commander. By his splendid Personal gallantry hfl, .carried the initial attack straight through the enemy s front system of trenches. Owing to mist and heavy fire of all descriptions Lieutenant-Colonel Freyberg s command was much disorganised after the capture of the first objective. Ha personally rallied and re-formed his men, including men from other units who had become intermingled. He inspired all with his own contempt of danger. At the appointed time he led his men to the successful assault of the second ob-jective-many prisoners being captured. During the advance ho was twice wounded. He again milled and reformed all who were with him, and although unsupported in a very advanced position, he hold lus ground for the remainder of the day and throughout the night, under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. When reinforced on Ihe following morning he organised the attack on a strongly fortified yrilage, and showed a fine example of dash ”! personally leading the assault, capturing the village anji .500 prisoner. Tn this operation he was again wounded Later in ' the afternoon he was again wounded severely, but refused t° le^ ve the line till he had issued final instnic tions. The personalty, valour, and utter contempt of danger on the part of this single officer enabled the lodgment on the most advanced objective of the corps to be permanently held, and on rtis point d’appui the line was eventualy formed/' Promoted to Brigadier-General. For his gallantry and judicious leadership he was promoted in 1917 to be bri-gadier-general, being then (at 27 years of age) the youngest to hold such rank in the British Army. . Colonel Freyberg had two brothers, Oscar and Paul, killed in the war. He has come to New Zealand to recru t Subject to his consent Colonel Freyberg will be entertained shortly by the Wellington College Old Boy® Association, w g hich is proud to include in its ranks so remarkable a unit of His jesty’s fighting forces.