Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameHarold Warren FREEMAN-ATTWOOD, 7C1R
Birth20 Sep 1923, Dalhousie, India
Death20 Apr 2015, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
FatherMajor General Harold Augustus FREEMAN-ATTWOOD DSO, OBE, MC (1897-1963)
MotherJessie JOB (1899-1958)
Notes for Harold Warren FREEMAN-ATTWOOD
UK Outward Passenger Lists
Departed England January 12 1929 on the Assyria, destination Bombay, India. 1st class
Harold A. Freeman, last UK address Bank Hart, Orpington, Captain Army, age 31
Jessie Freeman, age 29
Harold Freeman, age 5
The Guards Magazine [No date is given]
Obituary
Major H W Freeman-Attwood
Late Grenadier Guards
by Harry Wedderburn
formerly Grenadier Guards
Warren Freeman-Attwood, who has died aged 91, was born at Dalhousie, India, on 20th September 1923. He was the son of Major General H A Freeman-Attwood DSO OBE MC and educated at Marlborough. He was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards and was posted to 6th Battalion in Tunisia in 1943. In September, the Battalion landed at Salerno and Warren later fought in the first battle of Monte Camino overlooking the road to Naples. To bullets and shells were added the discomfort of frostbite and exposure. In December, when the Battalion descended from the mountain after nine days, it could only muster 263 men for duty. After a second battle, the mountain was captured. Warren was the sole platoon commander to emerge unscathed from both battles; however, the loss of so many friends remained etched in his memory.
His platoon’s next task was to dominate no man’s land and patrol up to the River Garigliano. Fortunately, a fat pig wandered into the anti-personnel minefield and provided a welcome Christmas dinner. In January 1944, in an attack on the high ground across the river, the Battalion captured 78 prisoners and 12 machine guns. Warren recommended Harry Butcher, his orderly, for a Military Medal, which he was awarded for his single-handed capture of a machine gun. In March, Warren and 16 other officers were transferred to 5th Battalion as part of the 6th South African Armoured Division. By October, they were opposite Monte Sole carrying out close contact night patrols.
Shortly afterwards, Warren and others who had seen continuous fighting were selected to go to South Africa for two weeks. The object was to inform the South African public about what their Division had achieved in Italy. Warren later returned to the Battalion as it fought its way northwards. On 1st January 1945 he led a fierce raid against Casa Fudella and was Mentioned in Despatches. In 1945 he moved to HQ 1st Guards Brigade for the final battle across the River Po. At the end of the war, Warren transferred to 3rd Battalion and then 1st Battalion on active service in Palestine followed by a tour in Tripoli. In 1950 he attended Staff College. He took part in the Lying in State of King George VI in Westminster Hall and was posted to the Canal Zone in Egypt on the staff of HQ 32 Guards Brigade. He was appointed Regimental Adjutant in 1958 and retired from the Army in 1960.
He joined the Stock Exchange, and was there until 1984 when a brain haemorrhage caused him to retire. For many years he helped run to 5th and 6th Battalions Officers’ Dining Clubs and in 1995 played a leading part in establishing the 6th Battalion’s Mareth Cross at the West Door of the Guards Chapel. Warren was admired throughout the Regiment for his bravery in battle, intelligence, dedication and ability. He had a wonderful sense of humour and wide interests from opera to shooting.
His first marriage, in 1947, to Elizabeth Mostyn-Owen was dissolved. His second, in 1960, was to Marigold Wedderburn, who survives him with their son, Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood who is Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, a son and daughter from his first marriage and two sons and a daughter from her first marriage.
Departed England January 12 1929 on the Assyria, destination Bombay, India. 1st class
Harold A. Freeman, last UK address Bank Hart, Orpington, Captain Army, age 31
Jessie Freeman, age 29
Harold Freeman, age 5
The Guards Magazine [No date is given]
Obituary
Major H W Freeman-Attwood
Late Grenadier Guards
by Harry Wedderburn
formerly Grenadier Guards
Warren Freeman-Attwood, who has died aged 91, was born at Dalhousie, India, on 20th September 1923. He was the son of Major General H A Freeman-Attwood DSO OBE MC and educated at Marlborough. He was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards and was posted to 6th Battalion in Tunisia in 1943. In September, the Battalion landed at Salerno and Warren later fought in the first battle of Monte Camino overlooking the road to Naples. To bullets and shells were added the discomfort of frostbite and exposure. In December, when the Battalion descended from the mountain after nine days, it could only muster 263 men for duty. After a second battle, the mountain was captured. Warren was the sole platoon commander to emerge unscathed from both battles; however, the loss of so many friends remained etched in his memory.
His platoon’s next task was to dominate no man’s land and patrol up to the River Garigliano. Fortunately, a fat pig wandered into the anti-personnel minefield and provided a welcome Christmas dinner. In January 1944, in an attack on the high ground across the river, the Battalion captured 78 prisoners and 12 machine guns. Warren recommended Harry Butcher, his orderly, for a Military Medal, which he was awarded for his single-handed capture of a machine gun. In March, Warren and 16 other officers were transferred to 5th Battalion as part of the 6th South African Armoured Division. By October, they were opposite Monte Sole carrying out close contact night patrols.
Shortly afterwards, Warren and others who had seen continuous fighting were selected to go to South Africa for two weeks. The object was to inform the South African public about what their Division had achieved in Italy. Warren later returned to the Battalion as it fought its way northwards. On 1st January 1945 he led a fierce raid against Casa Fudella and was Mentioned in Despatches. In 1945 he moved to HQ 1st Guards Brigade for the final battle across the River Po. At the end of the war, Warren transferred to 3rd Battalion and then 1st Battalion on active service in Palestine followed by a tour in Tripoli. In 1950 he attended Staff College. He took part in the Lying in State of King George VI in Westminster Hall and was posted to the Canal Zone in Egypt on the staff of HQ 32 Guards Brigade. He was appointed Regimental Adjutant in 1958 and retired from the Army in 1960.
He joined the Stock Exchange, and was there until 1984 when a brain haemorrhage caused him to retire. For many years he helped run to 5th and 6th Battalions Officers’ Dining Clubs and in 1995 played a leading part in establishing the 6th Battalion’s Mareth Cross at the West Door of the Guards Chapel. Warren was admired throughout the Regiment for his bravery in battle, intelligence, dedication and ability. He had a wonderful sense of humour and wide interests from opera to shooting.
His first marriage, in 1947, to Elizabeth Mostyn-Owen was dissolved. His second, in 1960, was to Marigold Wedderburn, who survives him with their son, Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood who is Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, a son and daughter from his first marriage and two sons and a daughter from her first marriage.