FREER, Percy William
| Service Numbers: | 1164, 1132 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adderley, Shropshire, England, 3 April 1892 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Whitechurch Church of England School, England |
| Occupation: | Tram Conductor |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 23 July 1915, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Plot I, Row E, Grave 7 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1164, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement 1132, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked 1132, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 23 Jul 1915: | Involvement ANZAC / Gallipoli |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Percy William FREER was born on 3 April 1892 at Adderley, Market Drayton, Shropshire, England. He came to Australia when he was 20-years-old. On 28 September 1913 he joined the NSWGR&T as a tram conductor (casual) in Sydney.
Percy joined the AIF on 14 September 1914 and was posted to the 1st Reinforcements to the 1st Infantry Battalion (Service No. 1164)
On 30 June 1915 he received special mention in Divisional Orders for acts of conspicuous gallantry and valuable service during the period from 25 April to 5 May 1915 at Gallipoli. On 23 July 1915 he was killed in action. Percy’s grave is in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey
Submitted 11 July 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Percy William FREER was born on 3rd April 1892 at Adderley, Market Drayton, Shropshire, England. He came to Australia when he was 20-years-old. On 28th September 1913 he joined the NSW Government Railways and tramways as a tram conductor (casual) in Sydney.
Percy joined the AIF on 14th September 1914 . He was was posted to the 1st Reinforcements to the 1st Infantry Battalion (Service No. 1164). He nominated his father, John Freer who was then living at Terrick, Whitchurch, Shropshire, England as his next of kin.
He embarked for Egypt aboard HMAT A32 ‘Themistocles’ in Melbourne on 22nd December 1914. After a period of training in Egypt he embarked at Alexandria on 5th April 1915 for the Gallipoli Campaign. Between 25th and 29th April 1915, during the Anzac landings, he was wounded in action. He re-joined his battalion on 18th May 1915.
On 30th June 1915 he received special mention in Divisional Orders for acts of conspicuous gallantry and valuable service during the period from 25th April to 5th May 1915. On 23rd July 1915 he was killed in action.
Percy’s grave is in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey. The Australian War Memorial gives his place of association as Sydney, NSW.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board