Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Surgeon Captain A. G. V. French, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (Surg. A. G. V. French, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Surg. Lt. Cr. A. G. V. French. R.N.) mounted as worn, good very fine (3) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals to Naval Surgeons.

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Arthur Gordon Valpy French was born in Westminster on 2 February 1883 and was commissioned Surgeon in the Royal Navy on 5 November 1909. He served during the Great War initially in H.M.S. Carnarvon and was promoted Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander on 5 November 1915. Appointed Acting Staff Surgeon in H.M.S. Marshal Ney on 28 March 1917, he engaged German destroyers during a raid on Ramsgate on 27 April 1917, causing the German Force to withdraw. His final Great War appointment was as Acting Staff Surgeon in the seaplane carrier H.M.S. Vindex from 7 March 1918.

Remaining in the Service post-War, French was promoted Surgeon Commander on 5 November 1921, and Surgeon Captain on 31 December 1932. Appointed Fleet Medical Officer of the Home Fleet, and his final appointment was in charged of the R.N. Hospital, Malta. Upon relinquishing his commission he served as Medical Officer of the Elders and Fyffe Shipping Company, and died in Exmouth on 21 November 1946.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic of the recipient.