Son of James and Julia Freyberg.

The Freybergs migrated to New Zealand and moved to Wellington in 1891.

Four brothers served in WW1 Oscar Freyberg (RNVR) killed 1915, Cuthbert Freyberg (2/91), Paul Milton Freyberg (12374) died of wounds 1917 and Bernard Cyril Freyberg (4006) who went on to serve in WW2 as well.

Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with 6 (Hauraki) Regiment in January 1912

In 1912, he unsuccessfully sought a position in the New Zealand Staff Corps.

In 1913 he is reported to have been involved in the Mexican Civil War

He first served with the RNVR at the outbreak of war in 1914, as part of the Hood Battalion.

Served in Belgium in September 1914 and Gallipoli in 1915

After being evacuated from Gallipoli, he transferred to the British Army, RW Surrey Regiment and served on the Western Front.

Commanded 173 Brigade, 58 Division and 88 Brigade, 29 Division, 1917-1919

On 14 June 1922, Freyberg married Barbara McLaren (nee Jekyll), a widow with two children. They had one son, Paul Freyberg, who also served in World War 2.

Transferred to Grenadier Guards and then served as CO of 1 Battalion, Manchester Regiment, 1929-31

Appointed Assistant Quartermaster General (AQMG) of Southern Command, UK, 1931-33

Served as General Staff Officer grade 1 (GSO1) with the War Office in 1934

Promote to Major General in July 1934

Due to a heart murmur, Freyberg was obliged to retire in 1937.

He returned to active duty in 1939 when he was briefly put in charge of the Salisbury Plain area before accepting command of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

He remained as the commander of the New Zealand forces throughout the Second World War.

After the war, Freyberg served as Governor-General of New Zealand, the from June 1946 to August 1952.

Freyberg was admitted into the British peerage in 1951, taking the title 1st Baron of Wellington, New Zealand and of Munstead in the County of Surrey.

He took up residence in the Norman Gateway at Windsor Castle to serve as its Deputy Constable and Lieutenant Governor on 1 March 1953. He served there until his death in 1963.

Freyberg died when one of his old Gallipoli wounds ruptured.

Victoria Cross not publicly held AWMM