Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Major C. J. French, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, attached 26th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, late Imperial Yeomanry - taken prisoner at Lindley and died of wounds, 2 July 1916

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (9664 Pte., 45th Coy. Impl. Yeo.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Lt., I.Y.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Major) good very fine and better (3)
£360-400

Ex Spink, Anglo-Boer War Anniversary sale, 20/21 October 1999.

Charles John French was born in Adare, Co. Limerick. Attesting for the Imperial Yeomanry at Newbridge on 15 January 1900, he served as a Private in the 45th (Irish Hunt) Company 13th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, entering South Africa on 13 March 1900. As such he was taken prisoner at Lindley, 31 May 1900. He was later released. Commissioned a Lieutenant in the 60th (North Irish) Company 17th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry on 1 March 1901. For his services in that capacity he was mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s final despatch of 23 June 1902. On 9 July 1902 he resigned his commission and was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant. On 30 August 1914 he was appointed a Lieutenant in the Reserve of Officers and appointed Aide-de-Camp on 15 September 1914. He was advanced to a Captain in the 5th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry on 17 February 1915. As such he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 20 May 1915. Promoted to Temporary Major on 4 January 1916. As a Major attached to the 26th Tunnelling Company, R.E., he died of wounds at the 141 Field Ambulance on 2 July 1916. He was buried in the Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery. With a number of copied service papers and other research. Entitled to the 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal.