FREEMAN, Alfred Roy
| Service Numbers: | 13, V81462 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 October 1939, Sturt Street, South Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Preston, Vic., 22 March 1895 |
| Home Town: | Carlton North, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farrier |
| Died: | Accidental, Australia, 23 April 1942, aged 47 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Jun 1916: | Embarked 13, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1916: | Involvement 13, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 23 May 1919: | Honoured Military Medal, 'At 4.45 a.m. on the morning of the 8th August, 1918, immediately east of HAMEL, No. 13 Lance Corporal A.R. FREEMAN was in charge of six drays carting metal and material to the roads between our front line and the old German line. He had his men and drays on the job long before the hostile shelling had ceased, the first dray going over our own line 15 minutes after Zero. By his personal courage and disregard of danger, he set a great example to his own men and the men working on the road, and although he had several casualties amongst his horses, he yet kept the work going throughout, and greatly assisted, through his personal energies under the most trying circumstances, the successful completion of the works in hand.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61 Date: 23 May 1919 |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement V81462 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct 1939: | Enlisted V81462, Sturt Street, South Melbourne, Vic. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Alfred Roy Freeman
Service Number: 13 (World War 1)
Service Number: 81462 (World War 2)
Alfred Roy Freeman (called Roy by his family) was the first son of Alfred and Jane née Wilson. Alfred senior was the youngest brother of Henry Freeman who in 1902 established his livery stables in Drummond Street, Carlton, opposite the now-disused police station, on the site that is today Lygon Court. Alfred was closely involved in the business from the outset and in time so was Roy and his first cousin Herbert Henry Freeman (Henry's son) whose war service is also recorded on this page.Born in 1895 Roy was not quite 21 when he enlisted on 7 February 1916, giving his occupation as farrier and citing two years' experience in the Senior Cadets. On 6 June 1916 he sailed for overseas service on the Wandilla and by November of that year was in France where he served with the 3rd Australian Pioneers' Battalion. Little more than a month after his arrival, stationed at Rouen and now a lance corporal, he received a severe reprimand for "neglecting to obey an order requiring him to continually remain in charge of all animals placed in his care" which suggests that he had been assigned to duties where his experience at the family stables could be utilised.
In March 1917 Roy was hospitalised for a time and in July of that year he undertook a one-week veterinary course at Calais. Early in 1918 he had 14 days' leave in England and in the following August he was promoted to the rank of corporal. Just a month later Roy was awarded the military medal for bravery in the field, "for devotion to duty and sterling courage under heavy shell and machine gun fire, repaired roads and bridges as the advance went forward 8/8/18 east of Le Hamel".
Roy was still in France in February of the following year when he was admitted to hospital suffering from measles and later influenza. He was transferred to England and, after stays in three different hospitals, in April embarked on the Marathon for return to Australia. On arrival he was discharged, medically unfit.
Back in Carlton, Roy continued to live with other family members above the stables at 337 Drummond Street but his occupation had become motor driver. In 1926 he married Coralie Dartnell. By 1936 they, with their children, Russell and Betty (Lee), had moved to Bell Street, Preston. When World War 2 broke out, Roy was 44 years old but he enlisted very quickly, on 10 October 1939. He gave his permanent address as 337 Drummond Street, the family residence in the stables building which at one time or another was home to so many members of the extended Freeman clan. He was promoted to the rank of corporal almost immediately and in August 1941 to acting sergeant, serving at various Victorian locations including Caulfield, Echuca and Bendigo.
Roy was awarded 18 days' leave in December of that year and perhaps the freedom from military discipline went to his head because only weeks after returning to duty he received a severe reprimand for conduct "prejudice (sic) to the discipline and good order of the unit in that he was insubordinate and insolent to the NCO in charge of the guard."
In April 1942, three months after that reprimand and while on open camp leave, Alfred Roy Freeman was hit by a train and was found dead on the railway line near Moorabbin Station. He was 46 years old.1
Notes and References:
1 Inquest deposition file of Alfred Roy Freeman (VPRS 24/P0/1458/1942/1656)
http://www.cchg.asn.au/greatwar.html