Key Players
Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg is one of New Zealand's most venerated war heroes. A British born New Zealander who moved to the country with his family at age 2, Freyberg was involved in the military service from the age of 25. After attending Wellington College and subsequently working as a dentist, Freyberg departed New Zealand in 1914 where he earned money through competitive swimming and boxing to make his way to Britain to enlist in the war effort (Ian McGibbon, Dictionary of New Zealand Biography). After successfully petitioning for a place in the Royal Naval Division's Hood Brigade, he departed for the war in Europe and was soon fighting on the Belgian front (Ministry for Culture and Heritage, NZhistory.net.nz, 2014). One of the pinnacle moments of Freyberg's military contribution to World War I was his participation in the Gallipoli campaign where he swam ashore for the ensuing conflict. The culmination of this and Freyberg's other exemplary efforts in the war resulted in the awarding of a Distinguished Service Order and a Victoria's Cross Medal. After the end of the war, Freyberg progressed to fulfil leadership roles within the army which fostered his leadership skills and was the impetus for his promotion to the position of Major-General. Despite being dismissed from active service due to medical concerns, Freyberg was offered the position of commander of the 2nd New Zealand Division at the outbreak of World War II. Through his leadership of the division at pivotal conflicts, such as the 2nd Battle of El Alamein, he was eventually promoted to Lieutenant-General. It was the extended history of military experience which ultimately led to Freyberg's appointment as the commander of the New Zealand Corps at Cassino. After the end of the war and a successful military career, Freyberg moved on to become the Governor-General of New Zealand and eventually died in England, after the end of this role, in 1963.
General Mark Clark was an American born general who led one of the most successful military careers during World War II. Born in New York, Clark was awarded a place at the military academy at the young age of 17. After graduating from this program in 1917, he was quickly enlisted in the United States Army for the European conflict. Clark was soon engaged in the Europe and due to the expansion of the army, which necessitated strong leaders, he quickly rose through the ranks and gained prestige for his military exploits. After a successful tour of duty in World War I Clark, similar to Freyberg, performed a range of managerial positions which cultivated his leadership skills making him a prime candidate for promotion to Brigadier General come the beginning of World War II. Within a month of the American entry into the war, Clark was reinstated on the path to promotion as the U.S. Army recognised his strong leadership skills and the need for this representation in command positions. Ultimately, Clark was promoted to the position of commander of the U.S. Fifth Army, which was to be the American force present in the Italian Campaign, and participated in the Battles of Monte Cassino alongside Lieutenant-General Freyberg. Although on record as directly disobeying the orders of superior officers when Clark broke through the Gustav line and captured Rome, he is considered to be one of the more successful American military commanders: this was the cause for his eventual promotion to General.