ABSTRACT
SIR BERNARD C. FREYBERG (Governor-General, June 17, 1946August 15, 1952). Bernard Cyril Freyberg was born in London on March 21, 1889. He attended Welling College in New Zealand and was in the Royal Navy during World War I. He served with distinction at Gallipoli and the Battle of Somme in France. Freyberg was awarded the Victoria Cross and the Croix de Guerre and was wounded nine times. He served in the army after the war and rose to the rank of general in 1934. He retired from the military for health reasons in 1937 while stationed in India. Freyberg returned to active duty at the start of World War II. He was appointed commander in chief of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in 1939. His division provided the defense of Crete during the evacuation in 1941. He also led his troops into battle in North Africa and Italy. Freyberg was appointed governor-general of New Zealand after the war and took office on June 17, 1946. He was warmly received by the New Zealand people. He was created Lord Freyberg in 1951. He completed his term of office on August 15, 1952,
and returned to Great Britain. Freyberg was appointed deputy constable and lieutenant governor of Windsor Castle the following year. He died at Windsor, Surrey, at the age of 74 on July 4, 1963, after a long illness.
