FREYBERG V.C.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 581, 6 February 1929, Page 8

FREYBERG V.C.

TALK of decadence because the men of to-day are thought not to measure up beside the heroes of our history whose exploits are not subjected to the same envious scrutiny, can be silenced by reference to deeds of individual heroism during the Great War. In no way does such assessment of bravery give countenance to war; but once the tragic call has summoned men to fight, admiration for heroism in martial exercise cannot be withheld. Britain had many great hearts in her army; lint it was a soldier from New Zealand who gave the British Empire its most colourful hero.

Lieutenant-Colonel B. C. Freyberg, V.C., who has now been given command of the First Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, has had a career which reads like a romance come to being in the mind of some dreaming boy. A few years before the war he was at school in Wellington, and although born in London, he may be claimed at least, as a New Zealander by adoption. At Wellington College he excelled at swimming, and some of the records that he established there still stand. Growing into a superb physical specimen of manhood he took part in all sports; but it was as a swimmer that he was best known. After school days came a year or two of business life; but soldiering was in the young man’s blood, and he decided to go where war was to be found. Mexico appeared to be the likeliest fighting ground, and going to that country he offered himself to one of the armies engaged in the civil war. Later came Europe, and the bigger opportunity.

“Tiny” Freyberg joined the Royal Naval Division which went to Antwerp, and in the action there received his first wound. He rose to he Lieutenant-Commander, and then went to Gallipoli, where he won fame. A feint landing was to be made at Bulair for the purpose of diverting the attention of the Turks from the maiu objective. General Paris decided to send a party ashore under Freyberg’s command; but this plan was rejected in favour of one put forward by Freyberg himself. Instead of allowing other men to risk their lives, he swam ashore in the dark, and placing flares on the beach, led the Turks to believe that preliminaries were being made for the landing of a large force. With this act done, he swanr back to a waiting destroyer, and was not picked up for two hours. For this daring exploit he was awarded the D.S.O. Serving with further distinction, his next great exploit was in 1916 when, as an officer in the Royal West Surrey Regiment, he took command of an attack on an important objective and, although wounded four times, did not leave his position until the objective had been gained, and 500 prisoners captured. It was for this that he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

As the war went on, he gained further honours, and finally became Brigadier-General in 1917. Briefly told, this is his war career; hut Freyberg, apart from being a distinguished soldier, is a strong personality. His is the indomitable courage that can he drawn upon for any enterprise, and this is shown by his persistent efforts to swim the English Channel. Handicapped by war injuries, he has tried three times, and probably he will try again. A New Zealand school trained Freyberg, V.C.. and it is to the Dominion’s honour that this courageous man can be claimed as one of our own.