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FREUDENSTEIN, William James
Personal Details
| Service Number: | 2898 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia, 22 December 1893 |
| Home Town: | Grenfell, Weddin, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | 10 January 1966, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Grenfell Great War Memorial |
Service History
World War 1 Service
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2898, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2898, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Sydney | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, Military Medal: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This man is a regimental stretcher bearer. During the day of September 20th (attack on German positions near WESTHOEK) he carried casualties continuously. On the 21st he was sent up with a party to collect wounded from the front line. When all the stretchers had been loaded he returned to the front line and carried cases on his back down to a position of shelter. This he continued to do under machine gun and sniping fire till he had cleared the trench. He then dressed their wounds and helped to carry them back to the Aid Post when the other stretcher bearers returned. Throughout the whole engagement he worked continuously collecting and removing wounded to a place of shelter with an utter disregard of personal safety. His devotion to duty and fine courage did much to inspire his fellow stretcher bearers. His action in carring wounded to shelter on mornings of 21st undoubtedly saved many lives.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 Date: 7 March 1918 |
Personal Stories
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Carrie Henderson
William James Freudenstein was a 23 year old farmer prior to enlisting in the AIF on 23 August 1916. He embarked for overseas with the 7th Reinforcements of the 56th Battalion from Sydney on 25 October 1916 aboard HMAT Ascanius. Private Freudenstein was awarded a Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry on 20/21 September 1917 near Westhoek, Belgium. He continuously collected and removed wounded to a place of shelter with an utter disregard for personal safety and saved many lives. He returned to Australia on 24 March 1919.
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