Memorial gold brooch : Sergeant J S Freeth , 455 Squadron RAAF

Circular gold cameo brooch, with miniature photograph of Sergeant Freeth, suspended beneath an embossed RAAF eagle clasp. The reverse of the brooch is engraved 'To dear / John Freeth's / Mother / With regard from / his friends at / Angus & Coote. / 1944.'. The clasp has a short gold safety chain with a safety pin.

Engraved memorial brooch given to the mother of 411768 Sergeant John Samuel Freeth, who served with 455 Squadron RAAF, by his friends at Angus & Coote. He was credited with sinking a submarine by bombing it with depth charges in April 1943. Freeth was killed on exercise over the north Sea on 24 May 1943, when his aircraft collided with a Beaufighter. Mrs Freeth had refused to give up hope that her son had survived, and it was hoped that by giving her this brooch that she would come to accept his death.