SIR JOHN FRENCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 4, 22 August 1914, Page 6

SIR JOHN FRENCH.

DASHINC CAVALRY LEADER. Field-Marshal Sir John French, who commands the British expeditionary forces, has had a distinguished career of active service. Born in 1852, he joined H.M.S. Britannia in 1860 and served as a naval cadet and midshipman in the Royal Navy for four years. He entered the army in 1874 and served in the Soudan campaign of 1884-85 with the 19th Hussars; From 1889 to 1893 he commanded the 19th Hussars. In 1893 he was employed as assistant adjutant-general of cavalry on the staff and in the following year he was appointed assistant adjutant-general at headquarters of the army. In 1899 ho was appointed major-general to command the cavalry division in Natal. He commanded troops at the battle of Elandslaagte and the cavalry in Sir George White’s forces in the battles of Reitfontein and Lombard’s Kop. In 1900 he was appointed lieutenant-general commanding the cavalry division in South Africa, and was mentioned in despatches, subsequently being promoted major-general. Ho commanded the troops in operation round Colesberg from November, 1899, to February, 1900, and fought several important engagements. In the operations which culminated in the relief of Kimberley in 1900 be commanded the cavalry force, and later he commanded the cavalry division in Lord Roberts’ forces which captured Bloemfontein and Pretoria. While commanding tho left wing of Lord Roberts’s forces in the battles east of Pretoria on Juno 10 and 12, 1900, he was mentioned in despatches eight times. Ho was appointed general in 1907 and fieldmarshal in 1913. From 1907 to 1911 lie was Inspector-General of the Forces, and in 1911 ho became Chief of the Imperial General Staff and First Military Member of tho Army Council. He resigned from tho Army Council early this year on account of a misunderstanding during tho Ulster crisis