John Alexander French VC (1914 - 1942)

Ancestors

Australia's Victoria Cross recipients

Biography

Corporal Jack French VC was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Having previously gained the honoured title of 'Rat of Tobruk', he was killed in action fighting against the Japanese during the Battle of Milne Bay in September 1942 while serving with the 2/9th Battalion.

John 'Jack' Alexander French was born on 15th July 1914 in Crows Nest, north of Toowoomba on Queensland's Darling Downs, Australia ^[1] He was the second son of Albert French, a barber who had moved to the Crows Nest area from Tenterfield, New South Wales, and his wife Lucy Donaldson, who had originally come from Charleville, Queensland. Jack attended the Crows Nest State Primary School, Toowoomba State High School and Toowoomba Technical College. In 1929, after completing his formal education, he joined his father's business, commencing an apprenticeship.

Jack enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 22nd October 1939, promptly following the outbreak of the Second World War. He was allocated to the 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion, the first infantry battalion raised in Queensland during the war. ^[2] In early May 1940, the 2/9th Battalion embarked aboard the Mauritania for the United Kingdom, where the battalion formed part of an Australian contingent that helped defend against an expected invasion following the fall of France. When the invasion did not eventuate, the battalion – along with the rest of the 18th Brigade – were transferred to the Middle East, where they became part of the 7th Division.

In March 1941, the 2/9th took part in their first combat action, successfully capturing the Italian fort of Giarabub. The battalion then joined the garrison at Tobruk as it was surrounded by German forces – the Rats of Tobruk – taking part in several actions before being withdrawn in August. They briefly trained in Palestine before being sent to Syria, where they undertook garrison duties following the capitulation of Vichy French forces. Jack was promoted to Corporal in December 1941.

In early 1942, in response to the growing threat posed by Japan's entry into the war following the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Malaya, the 7th Division was brought back to Australia in preparation for deployment to south east Asia. In late August 1942, the 2/9th Battalion was deployed to the Milne Bay area of Papua; the eastern tip of the island. The Japanese were advancing south along the Kokoda Track and allied intelligence had predicted an attack around Milne Bay. In early September, the battalion took part in heavy fighting after the Japanese landed a force to capture the allied airfields situated there.

Victoria Cross

It was during this fighting at Milne Bay on 4th September 1942 that Jack performed the deeds that led to him being awarded the Victoria Cross (VC); gazetted in London 14th January 1943 on page 319 at position 1. ^[3] The company of which Jack French was part attacked a Japanese position where it encountered terrific rifle and machine-gun fire; Jack's section was held up by fire from three enemy machine-gun posts. Ordering his section to take cover, Jack advanced and silenced one of the posts with grenades. He then returned to his section for more grenades and again advanced and silenced the second post. Armed with a Thompson sub-machine gun, he then attacked the third post, firing from the hip as he went forward. He was seen to be badly wounded by fire from this post, but he continued to advance.

When the enemy guns ceased fire his section pushed on to find that all the members of the three enemy gun crews had been killed, and that Corporal Jack French had died in front of the third gun pit. He is buried at Bomana War Cemetery at Port Moresby. John Alexander French's name is located at panel 33 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.^[4]

Jack's two brothers also served during the war: older brother, Eric, in the Australian Army and younger brother, Gordon, who was killed in action in August 1943 in Europe, in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Jack was survived by his fiancée, Dulcie McCahon.

The public library at Crows Nest has been named the John French VC Memorial Library in Jack's honour. The Corporal John Alexander 'Jack' French VC Estate in Gaythorne, Brisbane is also named in his memory.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: John Alexander French, Birth date: 17/07/1914. Mother's name: Lucy Fanny May Donaldson, Father/parent's name: Albert French, Registration details: 1914/C/14099 (https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/c05213df1440200d1583a0dbcb338e91389f9a9f0f4bdb3509cb026e35cdccdb - Accessed 25 April 2020) Queensland Government: Family history research.
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 31 May 2019
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: QX1071 Corporal John Alexander French; accessed 31 May 2019
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: QX1071 Corporal John Alexander French; accessed 31 May 2019

See also

• Blanch, Craig and Pegram, Aaron. For Valour: Australians Awarded the Victoria Cross. New South Publishing, Sydney NSW, 2018. ISBN 978 17422 35424.
• Wikipedia profile: Jack French; accessed 31 May 2019.
• Wikidata: Item Q6112587, en:Wikipedia