Enlisted on 20 January 1917, the day before his 18th birthday, into the Hampshire Regiment as a private but soon transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as a cadet, being appointed a probationary temporary second lieutenant on 21 June. He was appointed a flying officer and confirmed in this rank on 13 September.
Maurice had been granted a permanent commission on 1 August 1919. He served with 25 Squadron at RAF Hawkinge before being posted to Iraq in 1925 to serve with No. 1 Squadron, then 55 Squadron. He returned to UK to be an instructor with Central Flying School at RAF Wittering from 17 January 1928, then No. 2 Flying Training School at RAF Digby from 5 April 1928. He returned to Iraq to rejoin No. 55 Squadron on 18 January 1930 before serving with No. 41 Squadron at RAF Northolt from 27 April 1932. He was posted to the School of Photography at RAF South Farnborough on 24 October 1936, and was promoted to squadron leader on 1 April 1937. He was then posted to No. 58 (Bomber) Squadron at RAF Boscombe Down for flying duties on 22 April 1937. |
Citation to his Distinguished Flying Cross, which appeared in the London Gazette on 7 February 1919:
Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Maurice Michael Freehill.
A brilliant leader who has destroyed five enemy aircraft and has displayed conspicuous bravery in attacking enemy troops on the ground. On 4th November, observing that a machine-gun post was holding up the advance of our infantry, he attacked it from a very low altitude, inflicting heavy casualties on the crews and putting them to flight. Later on he carried out a reconnaissance of the Army front at a height of 50 feet in the face of intense machine-gun fire, bringing back most valuable information. |