Farewell to Lord and Lady Freyberg 1952

Описание: Lieutenant General Bernard Cyril Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg's term as Governor General of New Zealand ended on August 15 1952. His tenure as Governor General had started in 1946. Freyberg was born in England but moved to New Zealand at the age of 2 with his parents.

Freyberg served in WW1. In 1915 Freyberg became involved in the Dardanelles campaign. Transferring to the British Army, Freyberg was posted to the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, but remained seconded to the Royal Naval Division, with which he proceeded to France in May 1916. During the final stages of the first battle of the Somme, he so distinguished himself in the capture of Beaucourt village that he was awarded a VC. Freyberg ended the war by leading a cavalry squadron detached from 7th Dragoon Guards to seize a bridge at Lessines, which was achieved one minute before the armistice came into effect. By the end of the war, Freyberg had added the French Croix de Guerre to his name, as well receiving five Mentions in Despatches.

The British Army classified Freyberg as unfit for active service in 1937. However, following the outbreak of war in September 1939 he returned to its active list in December as a specially employed major-general. Following an approach from the New Zealand government, Freyberg offered his services and subsequently gained appointment as commander of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force and of the New Zealand 2nd Division. In the climactic Battle of El Alamein in October–November 1942, the New Zealand Division played a vital part in the Allies’ final breakthrough; for his leadership of it, Freyberg was immediately promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. During the ensuing pursuit of the Axis forces across North Africa to Tunisia, where they surrendered, he led the New Zealanders on a series of well-executed left hooks designed to outflank successive enemy defence lines. In April and May 1943 Freyberg briefly commanded X Corps.

Freyberg relinquished command of the New Zealand division, on 22 November 1945 having accepted an invitation to become Governor-General of New Zealand – the first with a New Zealand upbringing. Freyberg played a very active role, visiting all parts of New Zealand and its dependencies whilst Governor General. After his term as New Zealand Governor-General had finished, Freyberg returned to England where he sat frequently in the House of Lords.

This film clip is of Lord and Lady Freyberg leaving New Zealand at the end of his tenure as Governor General. The National Film Unit was established to publicise New Zealand's participation and achievements during the Second World War. After 1945 the Film Unit expanded from producing weekly newsreels to making documentaries and films to the order of Government Departments. During its existence the Film Unit produced films for national organisations as well as many films on its own initiative. The private film industry in New Zealand relied heavily on the National Film Unit's extensive film processing facilities.

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Material from Archives New Zealand

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A military send-off for Lord and Lady Freyberg as they leave Wellington for England in August 1952. This ended Lord Freyberg's term as Governor-General of New Zealand.

DV file of Beta SP (tape 211) telecine of 35mm film- 200,561 W3471/16BW102