FREYBERG'S V.C.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3027, 14 March 1917, Page 7

FREYBERG'S V.C.

THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. ' The official story is now told of the "valour and utter contempt of danger" of Lieut.-Col. Freyberg in the great charge of thp Koyal Naval Division. It states:— Capt.. (temp. Lt.-Col.) Bernard Cynil Freyberg, D.5.0., R. W. Surrey K. and K.N.D. l''or most conspicuous bravery and brilliant leading as a battalion commander. By his splendid .personal gallantry ho earned the initial attack straight through the enemy's front system of trenches. Owing to mist and heavy fire of all descriptions, Lieut.-Col. ITroybcrg'e command was much disorganised after the capture of the first objective. Hβ personally rallied and reformed hie men, including men from other units who had become intermixed. Ho inspired all with his own contempt, of diingor. At the appointed lijne ho Itxl his men to tho encr.fssful assault of tho ew.ond objective— many prisoners being captured. During; this advance ho was twice bounded. Ho again rallied and roforracd all who were with him. and, although unsupported in a vcvj advanced position, he held hie ground for tho Temainder of tho day and throughout tho night, undor heavy artillery and ma-chine-gun fire. When reinforced on tho following moiling lie organised tho al:laclc on a strongly-fortified village, and sliowod a fino example of dash in porliunaliy leading tho assault,, capturing the villiign and ')00 prisoners. In tbie operation ho was again wounded. Leter in the afternoon ho was again, wounded severely, but refused to loave the lino till ho had issued final instructions. The personality, valour, and uttnr contempt of danger on the part of 1lii» single ofScer enabled lh'r> lodgment in Urn most ijrfjTnnrorl objc'itivo of the corps id Uβ permanently held, a.nd on this poiut d'ajDiii the liuo Tvag eientuallj forced.