FREEMAN, George Ross
| Service Numbers: | 2485, V147617 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 March 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 9 November 1896 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Bendigo High School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor, Bendigo St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Honor Roll, Bendigo St. John's Presbyterian Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jul 1915: | Involvement Private, 2485, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1915: | Embarked Private, 2485, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne |
World War 2 Service
| 13 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Major, V147617 |
|---|
Help us honour George Ross Freeman's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
George Ross Freeman was born in Bendigo, the son of Mr G H Freeman of the Bendigo High School Staff. The family lived at 64 Barkly Place, Bendigo. Known as “Ross”, his name was incorrectly recorded as “Freeman, G. K” on the St John’s Honour Roll. Having completed his education at the Bendigo High School he passed the Public Service Examination and was subsequently employed at the Clerk of Petty Sessions office in Prahran.
In his Journal, George Ross Freeman recorded: “When war was declared in August 1914 I immediately presented myself as a volunteer at the Prahran Drill Hall and was there informed that the minimum age was 19. I being at that time barely more than 17 I was not eligible so had to curb my impatience. Shortly afterwards the age was reduced to 18 and I tried again, stating that I was over that age. This time I was rejected on account of chest measurement being too small. ” [G. R. Freeman : Journal. The Soldiers Memorial Institute Military Museum, Bendigo]
He was transferred to Bendigo in November, 1914, and was employed as a junior Clerk in the Clerk of Courts Office. He volunteered for service on 22.4.15, the same day as Angus Mackay from Bendigo. The two men would later enter Signal School together, and be appointed as signallers to the same unit. When he enlisted George Ross Freeman was aged 18 years and 8 months, and was described as being 5’ 10” in height, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and “medium” hair.
He was farewelled by the magistrates and court officials on 22nd April, 1915. “I was sworn in by Mr E. M. Moore P.M. who made a very nice speech from the bench and I was presented with a case of pipes, on behalf of the bench. We left for Melbourne that night.” (G. R. Freeman: Journal.)
On 30.4.15 he entered Signal School. He was appointed to the 7th Reinforcements for the 5th Battalion on 4.7.15 . The date of the official commencement of his service is given as 7.7.15, the date of attesting at Seymour. He embarked for overseas on 16.7.15 with Service No. 2485.
He joined the 5th Battalion in camp at Lemnos on 3.11.15. The battalion had been withdrawn from Anzac for a period of rest. His journal entry for this date records “(We) went along to see the Sig officer and he is going to fit us into the sigs straight away.”
The battalion left Lemnos on 14.11.15, and landed at Anzac on 16.11.15. They moved into the front line the following day.
In his journal George Ross Freeman wrote that he was suffering from dysentery (29.11.15) and that the dysentery was still pretty bad when they were relieved on 18.12.15 and evacuated from Anzac. After a spell on Lemnos the battalion embarked for Egypt.
During February the Australian force was re-organized, with the addition of new battalions. Each new battalion comprised half Gallipoli veterans, and half fresh reinforcements from Australia. George Ross Freeman was one of the core of veterans to transfer from the 5th Battalion to the newly formed 57th Battalion. (17.2.16) He was admitted to hospital on 12.4.16, suffering from Dysentery, and re-joined his unit on 20.4.16. The battalion embarked for France on 17.6.16.
The 57th Battalion participated in the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916. On August 19th the battalion was in the front line at Rue-Du-Bois, near Fleurbaix, when Angus Mackay was Killed in Action. ‘Ross’ Freeman wrote to Mr Mackay in Bendigo telling him the details of his son’s death.
George Ross Freeman was admitted to hospital on 17.10.16, suffering from Diarrhoea. He was transferred to hospital in England (11.11.16) where the diagnosis was given as Paratyphoid. Whilst in England he was transferred to 65th Battalion (5.2.17) and transferred once again to 57th Battalion. (7.10.17) He spent this period in various training camps waiting to be drafted for overseas. He embarked for France on 12.12.17.
He embarked for return to Australia on 21.3.19.
“The Men Listed on the Roll of Honour, St John’s Presbyterian Church, Bendigo”: Larna Malone
Click images to start slideshow.