ROLL OF HONOUR.
FREW. — On 14th July, killed in action in France, PRIVATE JOHN FREW, eldest son of James Frew, Ardgowan (late of Herbert); aged 29. -North Otago Times, 29/7/1916.
Private John Frew (killed in action) was the eldest son of Mr James Frew, Ardgowan (late of Herbert), and was 29 years of age. He was born at Oamaru, and educated at the North School. He worked for a few years in the North Island, but returned to the South prior to the outbreak of war, and joined the Fifth Reinforcements at Invercargill. He was with the Anzacs at Gallipoli, whence he was invalided to England suffering from dysentery, but joined his company just after Christmas. There are 42 connections of the family fighting for the .Empire. A brother who joined with the First Reinforcements was wounded at Gallipoli, and has since been in Grey Towers Camp, England. Another brother, Sergeant-major James Frew, is a bomb instructor in a grenade school in France, and has been awarded the D.C.M. -Colonist, 8/9/1916.
John Frew's Regiment, the Otago Infantry, was watching and waiting through July, 1916. The great Somme battle, the "Big Push" was on, but they were not yet committed. They were occupying their positions and dealing with the day-to-day events of trench warfare. It was during this time, by sniper, or artillery, or other means, that John met his end and was buried in the nearest military cemetery in France.
Mr R. Frew of Kiokio and formerly of Kakaramea is at present on a visit to Patea. Mr Frew has a record of which anyone can be justly proud, no less than 51 members of the Frew family being at present on active service. Mr Frew has two sons at the front whilst a nephew Sergeant-Major James Frew, who joined the New Zealand forces from Auckland, recently gained the D.C.M. Mr Frew himself volunteered for active service but was turned down on account of age. -Patea Mail, 8/6/1917.
James Frew enlisted in the Auckland Infantry Regiment early 1915 and served at Gallipoli. His record shows that he was "mentioned in General Sir Charles Monro's despatches for distinguished and gallant services rendered."
James' death seems to have occurred during a relatively quiet time in the front line. His Regiment's Official History has this to say:
On July 19th the Brigade went back into the line, 1/Auckland going in to the Prowse Point sub-sector, while 2/Auckland moved first to Kortypyp Camp and then to the Catacombs. Shelling was heavy and continuous, and the Huns were making a most liberal use of poison gas. Ploegsteert Wood was literally drenched with the stuff. Hyde Park Corner was commencing to look as brown and torn as parts of the battlefield. On the 30th, 2/Auckland relieved the 1/Battalion, who went back to Hill 63, with Headquarters at Red Lodge.
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