Other Information:Freville was appointed by Middlesborough Borough Police on 28th November 1912 and by the Watch Committee on the 22nd May 1913 as PC112. He was 5 ft, 10 1/2 inches tall. Freville started his 6 month probation period and was appointed 4th class PC on 22nd May 1913. On the 23rd January 1913, Freville was commended by the Watch Committee for promptitude in rendering first aid to John Robinson and Charles Busher who were ‘gassed’ at Messrs Sir Raylton Dixon Co Shipyard on the 19th December 1912. He was promoted to a 3rd class PC on the 10th December 1913, and again to a 2nd class PC on the 27th April 1915. On the 27th April 1915, Freville resigned to join HMF and enlisted into the RAMC. He wrote to the Chief Constable Mr Riches, on the 11th September, stating that six members of the force now with the RAMC have been promoted. They were J Fawbert to Serjeant, H Grimmitt to Corporal, W Crown to Corporal, J Clarke to Lance Corporal, H Evans to Lance Corporal, and himself to Corporal. In a letter from the front, Freville described how he spent Christmas day 1917 - “I can honestly say I had one of the best Christmases I have spent for years. On Boxing Day we had sports, and everyone had to turn out in fancy costume. i converted three sandbags into a pair of running knickers, and painted Kaiser Bill’s photo on the top, a cat on one leg and a pig on the other, with a few bombs and fancy embroidery round the bottom. We had plenty of fun in the obstacle race, in which i came fourth. They had a five course dinner, with a liberal dessert of nut and fruit.” Freville was awarded the DCM for continued gallant and devoted service during operations from 21st August to 11th November 1918. He especially distinguished himself in the fighting east of Solesmes, 23rd - 25th October, by his gallant and intelligent handling of his bearer section under heavy shell fire, and again at Escarmain, where it was largely due to his initiative and example that the wounded were rapidly and continuously evacuated. On the 27th February 1919 Freville returned to the police force. He was presented with the DCM at an Inspection of Middlesbrough Police on the 19th September 1919. [Information researched and provided by John Grainger]
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