164936 (2662259) Major John FREEMAN, MBE, Rifle Brigade (formerly Coldstream Guards)

Hi there,
I'm trying to piece together my father's war history. He was typically reticent to discuss it and I never found out much beyond that he was in North Africa and had Desert Rat patches along with some ribbons in an old biscuit tin.
After his death (99 years old) I found his service number amongst his personal effects. Research which lead me to discover he was awarded an mbe for service at Medenine and recommended for a Croix De Guerre whilst in France.
Seems he had an eventful war and I'm keen to retrace his steps. The citations mention different units which has made it a little confusing.
I believe he was originally recruited into the Coldstream Guards as an enlisted man. Somehow he ended up in the Rifle Brigade as a Captain and then an acting Major. He seems to have been involved in logistics and supply.
He was in HQ22 Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, 10 Corps in Africa.
Then in 131st Infantry, 7th Armoured Division, 12 Corps in Europe.

Here are copies of both records. I hope to get help deciphering all they can tell me. The mbe is written in place of a scratched out MC..curious what that's about? Also hoping the names of his commanding officers can help figure out where he may have been?

Many thanks for your help.

 

Hi Tom and welcome!

Looking at your father's MBE award, it looks like your father's brigadier submitted a request for him to be awarded an MC, but it was "downgraded" to an MBE. Meaning no disrespect - I think it was not uncommon for a recommended award to be downgraded.

 

Hi Chris, thanks for the lightening-fast response. I wondered if MC might be a Military Cross which I supposed to be for valour. As my Dad was involved in supply perhaps an MBE for meritorious service is more appropriate anyway. Still a great honour.

I searched his name here on the site and found this mention in a thread. Is it possible that's my dad, do you think?

CRASC 22 Tpt Coln & CRASC 44 Tpt Coln

"....
This is the 22 Tpt Column WD for Sep 44 (WO171/2233), I hope it is of use:

21 September 1944



Message received by main party at FRESNES to return to ATH. Party reports back at 1000 hrs.



Maj Morling and Adjt visit Second Army HQ and ascertain from Maj Freeman that we are to take over from 34 Tpt Coln forthwith. Maj Morling and Adjt later have interview with Lt Col Huxham 34 Tpt Coln, and ascertain that there are seven Coys under comd plus the “G” Wksps Pl which we handed over to 34 10 days ago. The work is similar to a Station Maint Coy and tpt details are issued by ST Second Army.



No official instrs yet issued re date of switch and suggestion is that 34 Coln continue until after the move of Second Army (Rear) which is expected within 48 hrs.



Today’s tpt details: Amn – 59 vehs.



Sups – 49 vehs.



POL – 93 vehs....."

Exciting to find this hint. What a great site. Thanks.

 

Hi Tom,

I couldn't speak to the details of 22 Pt Column - but yes, "MC" stands for Military Cross.

 

Can you tell me what 22Pt column is? It looks like a report detailing a unit's progress through France. Are they related to 7th Armoured Division, do you know?

 

I assume Tpt means transport. But I'm not an expert on military abbreviations.

By the way, have you requested his military records?

 

No. I'm not sure how to get them. I'm just getting started in investigation. Google led me to IWM archive and then here

 

22 Tpt column would be the organic (unit's own) transport of 22 Armoured Brigade. Here's some info on how transport was structured in 7 Armd Div in 1941.

Motor Transport Organisation and Numbers in 8 Army, November 1941

All the best

Andreas

 

Get a copy of military service records

 

Hi Tom,

I suspect the Freeman in the Tpt Column thread is a different man (a staff officer at 2nd Army HQ?), but you really need his service docs for clarity.

That Tpt Column was an army group level formation in 1944-45 rather than anything to do with 7th Armoured Division.

I did find this entry in the war diary of HQ 131 Inf Bde (WO171/662) but unfortunately haven't got much of that diary.

22 July 1944 094685
Weather continued unchanged. Enemy arty and mortars increasingly active and Luftwaffe became more evident.
Major T.A. Lumly-Smith rejoined HQ 30 Corps. Maj Freeman posted to this HQ as B.M.

Frustratingly, or typically, that doesn't quite tally up with the reference in the medal citation to him having been the Brigade Major from June! Of course, for all we know he may have been transferred from BM 131 Bde to being a staff officer in 2nd Army HQ by September 1944. Only the service records will clarify that.

Regards

Tom

 

That's terrific info. Thank you.

 

That's seems like a significant lead. Thank you so much for taking the time to research it. Perhaps I can press upon you further with a couple of very basic questions to help me get oriented?
Firstly, what is the functional role of a Brigade Major? Also, what kind of fighting or work were 131 Inf Bde doing in this period? Would it have been part of a named operation? Lastly where abouts on the map were they when this war diary was written?

I'm planning to apply for his records asap. I live in United States which makes visits to archives tricky. Not sure how far I plan to take this research, though it is fascinating. There's a lot to learn.

 

The Bde Comd recommended him for an MC - which is awarded for gallantry, because he lived in Bde Tac HQ with his Bde Comd. Most of the time, a DAQMG - the chap responsible for people and supply in a Bde HQ, would operate from Bde Main which was much further to the rear.

Brig Hinde was clearly impressed that he came so far forward.

Regards

Frank

 

That's a very useful interpretation of the recommendation. It seems to make sense. Curious what exactly 'DAQMG' stand for?
Seems like he moved to the front during some action, in an unorthodox way (tank) and perhaps at some personal risk, to better perform is mission to supply.
It's a good story, thanks for helping me understand.

Other than Brig Hinde, there are some other signatures on doc. Would those have been approvals up the ranks and ending with B. Horrocks? Also, are recommendations effectively rubber-stamped, or are they scrutinised before being granted? I suppose I'm trying to gauge the meaning of the award.

 

Tom,

The Brigade Major is basically the senior staff officer in a Brigade headquarters. He turns the brigade commanders ideas into practical orders - the Bde operation orders are normally signed by him for example.

22 July 1944 would be between Op GOODWOOD and Op SPRING for 7th Armd Div. So, south of CAEN on road south towards FALAISE and under considerable German artillery fire. They were in reserve for Op SPRING and then moved west to join 30 Corps for Op BLUECOAT. I’ll take a look tomorrow and see if there is a specific location for Bde HQ in the war diary.

Regards

Tom

 

Thank you for this.
Turns out it may be difficult for me to access his official record as I don't have his death certificate. These Gazette notices fill in some blanks. Maybe I can figure out which of the O.C.T.U he trained with.

 

Doesn't sound very glamorous but maybe the third in charge of cigarettes and tea bags was quite important.

 

Thanks for this new information, Tom. I've been reading around the subject and you've given me a place to focus. Separately, is it possible he was at Villers-Bocage? I read that 131st Infantry participated, though not with much glory. Which leads me to wonder if medals were harder to get in defeat than victory?