The AIF Project

William James FREUDENSTEIN

Regimental number2898
Place of birthGrenfell New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
AddressChippendale, Iandra, Grenfell, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Next of kinFather, F Freudenstein, Chippendale, Iandra, Grenfell, New South Wales
Previous military service11th Light Horse
Enlistment date23 August 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name56th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/73/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 25 October 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Work near Westhoek on 20 September 1917.
Recommendation date: 25 September 1917

FateReturned to Australia 25 January 1919
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance
Medals

Military Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This man is a regimental stretcher bearer. During the day of September 20th (attack on German positions near WESTHOEK) he carried casualties continuously. On the 21st he was sent up with a party to collect wounded from the front line. When all the stretchers had been loaded he returned to the front line and carried cases on his back down to a position of shelter. This he continued to do under machine gun and sniping fire till he had cleared the trench. He then dressed their wounds and helped to carry them back to the Aid Post when the other stretcher bearers returned. Throughout the whole engagement he worked continuously collecting and removing wounded to a place of shelter with an utter disregard of personal safety. His devotion to duty and fine courage did much to inspire his fellow stretcher bearers. His action in carring wounded to shelter on mornings of 21st undoubtedly saved many lives.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 7 March 1918

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death10 January 1966

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