Title / object name Portrait of Herbert James Freeman with Marguerita Freeman and baby Zena
| Maker | Role | Date |
| Berry & Co | photographer | circa 1917 |
Materials photographic gelatin, sheet glass, silver, photographic plates
| Dimensions |
| 180 (Height) x 163 (Length) |
Format half plate (1/2)
Classification studio portraits, portraits, black-and-white negatives, gelatin dry plate negatives
Registration Number B.045583
Credit LinePurchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds
This studio portrait shows World War One soldier Herbert James Freeman, service number 48013, with his wife Marguerita and baby Zena. The family lived in Featherston where Herbert worked as a painter.
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 was based in New Zealand and trained at Trentham between March 1917 and 31 July 1918. He embarked for London on the Tofua, 1 August 1918 in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 42nd Reinforcements, D Company. 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 the 22.4.1918 a few months prior to Herbert's departure for London.
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.