Bernard Cyril Freyberg

Born 21 Mar 1889 - Died 4 Jul 1963

Service number: 4006 AWMM
Also known as: Tiny AWMM
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Navy AWMM
Last rank: Inter War Major General/Military AWMM British Expeditionary Force AWMM
WW2 Lieutenant General/Military AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
War: Regular Military Service AWMM
World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Bernard Cyril Freyberg — Portrait of Brigadier General Bernard Freyberg, Archives New Zealand, AALZ 25044 6 / F645 20. Image is subject to copyright restrictions.

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Biographical information

Bernard Cyril Freyberg was the son of James and Julia Freyberg. Born in England, he came to New Zealand with his family, who settled in Wellington in 1891.

Freyberg was one of four brothers who served during World War I. His brothers were Oscar Freyberg, who served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was killed in 1915; Cuthbert Freyberg (2/91); and Paul Milton Freyberg (12374), who died of wounds in 1917. Bernard was the only one of the four who later also served during World War II.

Freyberg's military career began in New Zealand. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 6th (Hauraki) Regiment in January 1912. That year he unsuccessfully sought a position in the New Zealand Staff Corps. In 1913 he was reported to have been involved in the Mexican Civil War.

At the outbreak of World War I, Freyberg travelled to Britain and joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, serving with the Hood Battalion of the Royal Naval Division. He served in Belgium in 1914 and at Gallipoli in 1915. After being evacuated from Gallipoli, he transferred to the British Army and joined the Royal West Surrey Regiment, subsequently serving on the Western Front.

Freyberg rose rapidly through the ranks and held senior commands despite his relatively young age. From 1917 to 1919 his appointments included command of the 173rd Brigade, 58th Division, and the 88th Brigade, 29th Division. His World War I service was marked by repeated wounds and numerous decorations, including the Victoria Cross.

On 14 June 1922, Freyberg married Barbara McLaren, née Jekyll, a widow with two children. They had one son together, Paul Freyberg, who later served during World War II.

Freyberg remained in the British Army between the wars. He transferred to the Grenadier Guards and served as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment from 1929 to 1931. From 1931 to 1933 he was Assistant Quartermaster-General of Southern Command in Britain, and in 1934 served as a General Staff Officer, Grade 1, at the War Office. He was promoted Major-General in July 1934. A heart condition led to his retirement from the Army in 1937.

With the outbreak of World War II, Freyberg returned to active duty in 1939. He was briefly placed in command of the Salisbury Plain area before accepting command of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He remained commander of the New Zealand forces throughout the war and led them through campaigns in Greece, Crete, North Africa and Italy. As Commander of the 2NZEF he was also patron of the Kiwi Concert Party.

Following the war, Freyberg returned to New Zealand and served as Governor-General from June 1946 until August 1952. In 1951 he was raised to the British peerage as Baron Freyberg, of Wellington in New Zealand and of Munstead in the County of Surrey.

After completing his term as Governor-General, Freyberg returned to Britain. On 1 March 1953 he took up residence in the Norman Gateway at Windsor Castle following his appointment as Deputy Constable and Lieutenant-Governor of Windsor Castle. He held the position until his death in 1963.

Freyberg died on 4 July 1963 following the rupture of one of the wounds he had received at Gallipoli nearly 50 years earlier.

The location of Freyberg's Victoria Cross is not publicly recorded. AWMM

Sources

External links: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz
Sources Used
London Gazette.
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/home.aspx?geotype=London
Sources Used
National Archives of New Zealand, National Collection of War Art. Portrait.
http://warart.archives.govt.nz/node/72
Further Reference
Birkenhead (Auckland) Returned Services Association website. Victoria Cross.
http://www.birkenheadrsa.com/victoria-cross.html
Further Reference
Military Personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R23523700
Further Reference
Military Personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R23523701
Further Reference
Military Personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R23513644
Further Reference
Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q334990
Further Reference
Multiple recordings of General Freyberg can be found on Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision's online catalogue
https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?record_id=184656
Further Reference
Johnston, Sarah. (2023). “With the boys overseas: How Homefront listeners shaped the work of Aotearoa New Zealand's first battlefront broadcasters”. New Zealand Journal of Public History, 9, 33-58.
https://phanza.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sarah-Johnston-With-the-Boys-Overseas.pdf
Further Reference
Multiple recordings of General Freyberg can be found on Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision's online catalogue . U-series. Opening of NZ Services Club. Pts 1-8 11650.
https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/11650
Further Reference
Johnston, Sarah. (2023). “With the boys overseas: How Homefront listeners shaped the work of Aotearoa New Zealand's first battlefront broadcasters”. New Zealand Journal of Public History, 9, 33-58.
https://phanza.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sarah-Johnston-With-the-Boys-Overseas.pdf
Further Reference
References: Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 1 (Embarkations to 31st March, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 1: WW2 62
Freyberg, P. (1991). Bernard Freyberg, VC: soldier of two nations. London, England: Hodder & Stoughton.
Stevens, W. G. (1965). Freyberg, V.C., the man: 1939-1945. Wellington N.Z.: A.H. & A.W. Reed.
Barber, L., & Tonkin-Covell, J. (1989). Freyberg: Churchill's salamander. Auckland, N.Z.: Century Hutchinson.
Gardiner, N. (1981). Freyberg's circus: reminiscences of a Kiwi soldier in the North African campaign of World War II. Auckland, N.Z.: Ray Richards in association with William Collins.
Haigh, J., Polaschek, A. (Eds.). (1993). New Zealand and the Distinguished Service Order. Christchurch, N.Z.: Authors.
Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ.
pp.101-102
The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). p. 115
Barnes, D. Roger. The armorial bearings of Bernard Lord Freyberg. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 89/171.
Harper, G., Clements, C., & Johns., R. (2019). For King and Other Countries: The New Zealanders Who Fought in Other Services in the First World War. Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University Press.
P. 42 -46
McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
Davin, D. (1953). Crete. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.

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Bernard Cyril Freyberg