Andrew Freebairn

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 09/06/2015 - 12:19

First Name:

Andrew

Last Name:

Freebairn

Mother's Name:

Margaret (nee Dunn)

Father's Name:

Hugh Freebairn

Date Enlisted:

Monday, February 22, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

17th Battalion

Company:

C Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, May 23, 1949

Place of Death:

Helensburgh

Details:

(Service No 1052/4039) Andrew Freebairn was born in Newcastle, NSW about 1891. At the time of enlistment he was a single 24 year old coal miner at Helensburgh, NSW. He embarked on HMAT A32 Themistocoles on 12th May 1915 with C Company, 17th Battalion. After arriving in Egypt he was sent to Gallipoli and saw service there.

Andrew was transferred to the 4th Field Engineers and saw service on the Western Front. He has no entries on file for any wounds and was returned to Australia in March 1919. He was discharged on 1st July 1919.
In 1922 Andrew married Hilda Lucas and in 1936 he again married Edith Kimber.

His Army records show his first Service Number was 1052, which was later changed to 4039.

His brother James (Service No 600) was killed in action in 1917 and a cousin Walter (Service No 55) was killed at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, FREEBAIRN A