Bernard Freyberg (1889-1963) was an exceptional soldier and during a career which encompassed two world wars as well as serving in important official positions he managed to pick up a Victoria Cross and no fewer than four DSOs. All but one of these decorations was awarded for bravery in the First World War.
Freyberg was wounded at least nine times in the First War and once in the Second World War, but he seemed almost impervious to fire and always bounced back. Winston Churchill described him as a 'salamander', a mythical beast which can endure fire.
In August 1914, Freyberg, brought up in New Zealand, was in London and keen to get into the action so he somehow wangled an interview with Winston Churchill at the Admiralty. He was subsequently offered a post in the Hood Battalion of the newly formed 63rd Naval Division which had been set up as a means of employing sailors who were superfluous to needs. He was made commander of A Company of Hood Battalion and, in October, took part in the disastrous Antwerp escapade.
In February 1915 he sailed with his battalion to Gallipoli and, while on the Peninsula when taking part in the fighting against the Turkish Army, he gained his first DSO. On 25/26 April 1915, Freyberg volunteered to swim after dark to a beach on the mainland and send up marker flares to confuse the Turks.
In June the Hood took part in the ill-fated attempt to capture Achi Baba and, although Freyberg was suffering from wounds, he was appointed Active Battalion Commander of the Hood. After a spell in a hospital in Egypt he returned to Gallipoli in August when he was promoted to Battalion Commander. The Hood left the Peninsula in January 1916.
In November 1916 Freyberg gained a VC for his inspiring leadership in the fight to capture the village of Beaucourt on the Somme. However, he was once more wounded and took several months to recover.
In March 1917 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General and placed in command of the 173rd Bde 58th (London) Division. He fought with them at Bullecourt and in September in the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) when he was again seriously wounded. After three months he was back in the Salient in command of the 88th Bde of the 29th Division.
He then took part in most of the 1918 battles and was awarded two Bars to his DSO. The first was for leading an attack leading up to the capture of Gheluvelt on 28 September and the second for leading a cavalry charge on 11 November. After the Armistice he went with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine. All told, he was wounded nine times and Mentioned in Despatches on seven occasions.
Readers wishing to read a much fuller account of Bernard Freyberg's career can consult the updated version of VCs of the Somme in the VCs of the First World War priced £9.95, available from the WFA's Online Bookstore (in conjunction with Amazon) and from The History Press: www.thehistorypress.co.uk.
Article and image submitted by Gerald Gliddon.
