COL. FREYBERG, V.C.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1921, Page 9

COL. FREYBERG, V.C.

.RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND. Lieut.-Colonel B. C. Freyberg, V.C., D. 5.0., Grenadier Guards, is on a. visit to his relatives in Wellington. He has nc.t been, very well during recent months, one of his numerous wounds having caused him trouble, and he has been granted leave. Colonel Freyberg shuns publicity, but on the evening of Anzae Day he came into the limelight at a dinner being held in London to commemorate the 29th Division. During its progress cable messages arrived from Australia, New Zealand and Gallipoli. That from New Zealand was worded in Maori, and the only officer who could declare himself capable of translating at was Colonel Freyberg. The Gallipoli message came from the old commandvr of the 29th Division. Sir Aylmer HunterWeston, who. the other day, was on the actual scene of the Division’s Gallipoli exploits."

Colonel Freyberg, who is an old Wellington College boy, is only thirty-one years of age. He adopted dentistry as a profession, and in March, 19i1,“ left for San Francisco, where lie practised for some months. He was, however, cut cut for a military career, and was soon engaged as a participant in the war ; n Mexico. When the Great War broke out in August, 1914, he soon found his way to England, and, joining the British Army, set out upon a meteoric career. He won the D.S.O. at the Dardanelles, and, as a lieutenant-colonel, at the Battle of the Anere, in November, 1916, annexed the coveted Victoria Cross. In May, 1917, when only twenty-seven years of age, he was promoted BrigadierGeneral, and thus had the honor of being the youngest brigadier in the British Army. Next he secured a bar to his D. 5.0., and soon doubled it. At the conclusion of the war lie was posted to the regular British Armv. Grenadier Guards, with the rank if lieutenantcolonel. Last year he had the high distinction of commanding all the V.C. winners in England on the occasion of the burial of the unknown soldier.