Embroidered pouch : Corporal C Freel, 6th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment

Khaki cotton drill pouch sewn by hand with backstitch and hand embroidered with crimson, white and black cotton thread. The top front of the pouch is folded down to form a flap. The edges of the fabric have been unwoven and re-worked in to a macrame fringe approximately 3-4cm in depth.The pouch has been embroidered using a form of laid couching stitch. On the flap is embroidered 'MESOPOTAMIA. 6th SOUTH LANCES'. In the centre of the pouch is a circular design of a ship at sea with the words '19 GALLIPOLI 15' above. To the left of the circle is 'KUT EL AMARA 1916' and to the right of the circle is 'BAGH-DAD 1917'. Below the circle is ' GOOD 1918 LUCK' . The pouch flap has been trimmed with a narrow silk ribbon of red, white and blue and the lower edge of the pouch is trimmed with a slightly wider cotton ribbon of the same colours. The back of the pouch is plain.

This pouch was made by 10940 Corporal Charles Freel, a British soldier serving with 6th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment. Freel collected the material whilst serving on Gallipoli and embroidered it at a later date with the details of the places he served in with his unit. In 1918 Freel was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his services in Mesopotamia which was noted in the London Gazette on 26 August 1918 and further referred to in the edition published 21 October that year. The published citation reads ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As non-commissioned officer in charge of stretcher corps bearers, he has on many occasions shown great bravery, energy and determination, no duty being too dangerous for him, and his magnificent example has always encouraged the bearers under him to greater efforts.’ In later years Freel migrated to Australia, settling in Brisbane, Qld.