John Alexander French, VC (15 July 1914 – 4 September 1942) 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. French was one of 20 Australians to receive the award for their actions during the Second World War. 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.

Early life

French was born on 15 July 1914 in Crows Nest, north of Toowoomba in Queensland. His parents were Lucy (née Donaldson) and Albert French. His father was a hairdresser who had moved to the Crows Nest area from Tenterfield, New South Wales, while his mother had originally come from Charleville, Queensland.

In his formative years, French had a reputation as a good sportsman, excelling particularly at rugby league. He was also known for his sense of fair play, with one of his childhood friends, Alf Blinco, recounting the story of how French had exonerated him when he had been falsely accused of stealing by finding the real perpetrators. At age six, French attended the Crows Nest State Primary School, continuing his schooling there until 1928 when he gained a scholarship to further his education by successfully passing a scholarship examination. French was promoted to corporal in December.

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 2/9th Battalion, along with the rest of the 7th Division, was brought back to Australia. At this time they were eventually granted seven days' leave, and French returned to Australia and Crow's Nest. This leave was the final time his family saw him alive. This was followed by further training as the Australian Army reorganised for jungle warfare, before the 2/9th were committed to the fighting against the Japanese in New Guinea.

Victoria Cross

thumb|right|150px|John Alexander French's Grave at the Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby

In late August 1942, the 2/9th Battalion was deployed to the Milne Bay area of New Guinea. 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.

The fighting around Milne Bay eventually resulted in Japanese withdrawal, and represented the first full-scale defeat of the Japanese on land during the war. Although French's Victoria Cross was gazetted first, his award was actually the second for actions on Australian territory (due to Papua New Guinea being under Australian Government jurisdiction), as Bruce Kingsbury received his VC for actions near Isurava on the Kokoda Track on 29 August 1942. French is buried at the Bomana War Cemetery at Port Moresby. He was survived by his fiancée Dulcie McCahon. Two of his brothers also served during the war: Eric in the Army, and Gordon, who was killed in action in August 1943 in Europe, in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Legacy

The library at Crows Nest is called the John French V.C. Memorial Library.

The John French Estate and Memorial Park in Gaythorne, Brisbane, which is named in his honour, opened on 10 April 2003.

The John French VC Bridge on the Toowoomba Range crossing was unveiled in September 2019.

The John French VC Bridge (over Downfall Creek) on Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside was erected by Brisbane City Council.

Personal life

French was a cousin (first cousin, once removed) of George Cross recipient Eric George Bailey.

Notes

References

Further reading

  • Corporal J.A. French in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
  • Corporal J French (photo, brief details)
  • World War II Nominal Roll