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Herbert James Freeman, service number 48013
This portrait shows Rifleman Herbert James Freeman with his wife Marguerita and baby Zena, who was born on 23 January 1917. The family lived in Featherston where Herbert worked as a painter.
Called up in the first ballot, Herbert attested for service on 18 December 1916 but was granted leave for four months on the grounds of 'hardship' and due to the fact that his wife was 'a very delicate woman' - she was probably pregnant at this time.
Herbert trained at Trentham Camp between March 1917 and 31 July 1918. He embarked for England on the 'Tofua' on 1 August 1918 as a member of 'D' Company, 42nd Reinforcements. He was based at Sling Camp in England for a short time at the end of the war, then returned to New Zealand on the Briton in June 1919.
Marguerite and Herbert had one other child during the war, Rita Haydon Freeman who was born on 22 April 1918, a few months prior to Herbert's embarkation.
After the war the family lived in the Masterton area until 1928. Herbert and Marguerita had two more children, Leslie and Jack. They moved to Sydney for a few years but were back in New Zealand in 1930. Herbert and Marguerita lived in Hamilton for the rest of their lives. Herbert died on 7 May 1950 and Marguerita died in 1975. Zena Cargo, nee Freeman, died in 2013 aged 95.