FREEMAN, Alan Benjamin John
| Service Number: | 3517 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 July 1915, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Geelong, Vic., 16 May 1893 |
| Home Town: | Newtown, Golden Plains, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Geelong College |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Heidelberg, Melbourne, Vic., 13 October 1964, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria 2nd Ave Rose Garden Positions, Garden Bed 1, Position 10 |
| Memorials: | Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour Book, Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour, Geelong St Giles Church Honor Roll (2) |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 3517, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1916: | Involvement 3517, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked 3517, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
ALAN BENJAMIN JOHN FREEMAN, the son of Mr. T. W . and Mrs. Mary Brown Freeman, was born at Geelong, Victoria, on 16th May, 1893.
He was educated at Geelong College, and entered the service of the Bank at Geelong on 18th October, 1910. In August, 1912, he was transferred to Rochester, and in February, 1915, to Melbourne.
He enlisted on 31st July, 1915, and proceeded to Egypt, subsequently seeing service in France and taking part in the Battle of Pozieres and other engagements. He was still in France at the time of the great Australian advance in August, 1918, and rendered conspicuous service at the attack on Peronne on 2nd September. At that time he was still a private, but was promoted shortly afterwards to the rank of lieutenant. The following is the official account of the action for which his Military Medal was awarded:—
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on Peronne on 2nd September, 1918. When his company in passing through Peronne suffered heavy casualties from a heavy barrage of H.E. and gas, Private Freeman assisted several men forward to the position they were to reach on the canal bank. Here further casualties occurred and it was necessary to get these men across the canal before the stretcher-bearers could carry them to the R.A.P. A pontoon was obtained, but it was too short to reach across the canal, Private Freeman jumped into the water, which was up to his neck, and, though under very heavy fire, guided the pontoon to and from the banks until all the wounded had passed over the canal.
“This man showed great bravery and consideration for the wounded, and undoubtedly saved many lives.”
Source - Bank of NSW Roll of Honour
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