Joseph Freel

Born in 1862, he enlisted as a Regular soldier in the 2nd Battalion DLI in 1881. He fought in Egypt in 1885 and was promoted to Sergeant. During the Boer War, he served as Sergeant Major of 1 DLI, was badly wounded at the Battle of Vaal Krantz on 5 February 1900 and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was commissioned as Quartermaster & Lieutenant in 1903.

During the Great War, he served with 1 DLI in India on the North West Frontier and was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel & Quartermaster in 1919 after 38 years service. Joseph Freel died in Newcastle in 1930.