Memorial details

Memorial type
Other memorial
District
Barrow In Furness
Town
Barrow-in-Furness
County
Cumbria
Country
England
Commemoration
Second World War (1939-1945): Far East Prisoners of War, Second World War (1939-1945)
Maker
Chris Brammall Ltd of Ulverston (Makers)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: Feb 2011
    Attended by:
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
69013

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Current location

riverside
beside the Walney Channel
James Freel Close
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow In Furness
Cumbria
LA14 2PN
England

OS Grid Ref: SD 18901 69997
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Steel sculpture with bronze-effect paint. The shape represents both the medals he earned and the propeller system used to power the torpedo he manned. The chains behind the scuplture are fixed so as to appear as if they are tensioned. Accompanying silver plaque on piece of rough hewn slate
Inscription
Memorial-LEADING SEAMAN JAMES ‘JIMMY’ FREEL CGM 1919-1965 DECORATED WORLD WAR II CHARIOTEER Plaque-James (Jimmy) Freel CGM James Michael Freel , born at Hindpool in Barrow on 13 December 1919, joined the Royal Navy on 9 June 1936 and became Barrow’s highest decorated war hero of World War II. After serving as a gunner on the battleships HMS ‘Revenge’, HMS ‘Royal Sovereign’ and HMS ‘Rodney’ he volunteered in May 1942 for a “Special/Hazardous Mission� and trained as a “Charioteer Driver� (aka “Human Torpedo) assigned to th e 10th Submarine Flotilla in Malta to prepare for/Operation Principal targeting enemy ships in Palermo, Sicily. On 29 December 1942, Freel and Sub Lieutenant RG Dove RNVR,with Chariot No. XVI, embarked on submarine HMS “Torpedo� to attack ships in/Palermo/harbour where they sank the Italian troopship ‘Viminate’ after which they made their way ashore where they were taken prisoners and sent to/Prisoner of War camps in mainland Italy. On 9 September 1943 (after 9 months as a POW) Freel escaped and fought with the local Partisans unril December 1943, when he rejoined the Allied/Forces and was repatriated to the UK. On 18 April 1944 James Freel was gazetted for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) for his “courage, determination and devotion to duty�. He saw further action in the Far Easr and on 2nd June 1945, he was Mentioned in Despatches for “bravery, coolness of action and devotion to duty�/in the rescue of survivors from a burning tanker near Japan. He left the Royal Navy on 6 January 1950 after 12 years service and signed on the supply ship RRS ‘Discovery I’ bound for the Britiah Antarctic/Territories. On 2 January 1951 he signed off in Melbourne, Australia, where he lived until his untimely death on 13 November 1965
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Freel, James Michael (jimmy)
See details
Commemorations
  • Second World War (1939-1945): Far East Prisoners of War
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 1
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames, date of birth, place of birth, date of death, place of death, awards, details of war service, biographical
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 1
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames, date of birth, place of birth, date of death, place of death, awards, details of war service, biographical
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Sculpture
    Measurements: depth 150mm, height 2700mm dia, width 2700mm dia
    Materials: Steel
  • Plaque
    Measurements: depth 5mm, height 400mm, width 600mm
    Materials: Silver
  • Backboard
    Measurements: depth 200mm, height 660mm, width 920mm
    Materials: Slate
Listing information
Condition
Costs

Memorial: c £18,000

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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© WMR-69013

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