Regimental number | 356 |
Place of birth | La Grange, Indiana, USA |
Religion | Baptist |
Occupation | Journalist |
Address | 415 Emmett Street, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 35 |
Height | 5' 11" |
Weight | 140 lbs |
Next of kin | Father, Daniel D Free, 415 Emmett Street, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA |
Previous military service | Served for 6 years in the US Cavalry; discharged 1909. |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Guildford, Western Australia |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 10th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 10/15/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A47 Mashobra on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 10th Light Horse Regiment |
Fate | Discharged |
Discharge date | |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine Embarked from Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 May 1915. Diagnosed arthritis in knee, Gaba Tepe, 25 June 1915; admitted to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, Lemnos, 25 June 1915 (synovitis); returned to duty, Gallipoli, 4 July 1915. Appointed Lance Corporal, 19 August 1915. Admitted to HS 'Ionian', Gallipoli, 29 August 1915 (dysentery); transferred to Malta, and admitted to Military Hospital, Imlarfa,1 September 1915; to Ghain Tuffector, 29 September 1915; embarked for Mudros, 15 November 1915; disembarked Alexandria, 12 December 1915; rejoined unit, Heliopolis, 26 December 1915. Promoted Sergeant, 22 January 1916. Admitted to 54th Casualty Clearing Station, Serapeum, 14 June 1916 (pleurisy); rejoined unit and returned to duty, 22 June 1916. Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Serapeum, 5 July 1916 (bronchitis/pleurisy); discharged to duty, 9 July 1916. Reprimanded, 17 August 1916, for neglect of duty. Admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, 18 November 1916 (insomnia); discharged to 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 4 December 1916. Admitted to hospital en route to join 10th Light Horse Regiment, 21 December 1916; transferred to 26th Casualty Clearing Station, 24 December 1916 (scabies, slight); transferred same day to 24th Stationary Hospital; to 31st General Hospital, Port Said, 1 January 1917; discharged to duty, 9 January 1917. Admitted to 26th Stationary Hospital, Moascar, 29 January 1917 (neurasthenia); transferred to 14th Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, 29 January 1917; discharged and returned to duty, 3 March 1917. Marched out to Port Said Rest Camp, 2 September 1917. Admitted to 1st General Hospital, Port Said, 4 September 1917 (neurasthenia); transferred to 15th General Hospital, Alexandria, 11 September 1917; to British Red Cross Convalescent Depot, Montazah, 14 September 1917; discharged to 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 4 October 1917. Transferred to 10th Light Horse Regiment, 6 December 1917. Appointed Temporary Squadron Sergeant Major, 28 February 1918. Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 23 May 1918 (myalgia, injury to knee: injured on 12 May: moderate contusion on left knee; kicked by a horse while inspecting Squadron Lines: no one to blame; injury sustained in performance of duty); transferred to 76th Casualty Clearing Station, 25 August 1917; to 24th Stationary Hospital, 27 May 1917; to 36th Stationary Hospital, Gaza, 25 May 1918; to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, 28 May 1918. Admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, 3 June 1918 (traumatic myalgia); transferred same day to Port Said Rest Camp; marched out to 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 12 June 1918; transferred to 10th Light Horse Regiment, 18 July 1918. Sick to hospital, Jerusalem, 22 July 1918; transferred to 34th Casualty Clearing Station, 23 July 1918 (debility); to 24th Stationary Hospital, 24 July 1918; to 31st General Hospital, Abbassia, 25 July 1918; to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, 9 August 1918 (neurasthenia); discharged to Cairo for sick leave, 26 August 1918, and granted 10 days' leave. While on leave admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, Moascar, 5 September 1918 (bronchitis); transferred to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, 12 September 1918 (neurasthenia and bronchitis); to Port Said Rest Camp, 16 October 1918. Admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital, 26 October1918 (puncture wound, right arm); Court of Enquiry found 'that SSM Free was not on duty and that the injuries were self inflicted ? That injuries are not of a serious nature (2) Not likely to cause permanent ill effects (3) That this [is] a Mental Case. No disciplinary action can be taken.' Transferred to 14th Australian General Hospital, 5 November 1918; to Military Hospital, Cairo, 6 November 1918 (mental: diagnosed suicidal); embarked Alexandria for England on board 'Neuralia', 24 December 1918; admitted to Royal Victorian Hospital, Netley, 3 January 1919 (mental case); transferred to Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, 7 January 1919; discharged on furlough, 8 March 1919, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 22 March 1919. Discharged from the AIF in England, 25 March 1919 (medically unfit). Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAA: B2455, FREE Roscoe Conkling |