Jack French

John Alexander “Jack” French VC

Corporal John Alexander “Jack” French VC was born at Crows Nest, Queensland, on 15 July 1914. The son of a local hairdresser, he attended Crows Nest State School and Toowoomba Technical College before joining his father’s barber and tobacconist business. Quiet, athletic and well liked, French was known locally as a talented rugby league player.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 22 October 1939 and was posted to the 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion. French served in Britain and the Middle East, taking part in operations in Libya, the siege of Giarabub, the defence of Tobruk and garrison duties in Syria. His leadership and soldierly ability brought promotion to corporal, and his commanding officer reportedly considered him a potential officer. (Anzac Portal)

After returning briefly to Australia in 1942, the 2/9th Battalion was sent to Papua to reinforce the Allied position at Milne Bay. On 4 September, French’s section encountered three Japanese machine-gun posts that were preventing the Australians from advancing.

Ordering his men to take cover, French attacked the first position alone and destroyed it with grenades. He returned to his section for additional grenades, advanced again and silenced the second post. Armed with a Thompson sub-machine gun, he then moved directly against the third position, firing from the hip. Although badly wounded by enemy fire, he continued forward until the gun fell silent. When his men advanced, they found the crews of all three positions dead and French lying in front of the final gun pit. His action saved his section from severe casualties and ensured the success of the attack. (Anzac Portal)

French was killed at the age of twenty-eight and was buried in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, which was announced in the London Gazette in January 1943. His fiancée, Dulcie McCahon, remembered him as a modest and dutiful man who would always carry out his responsibilities regardless of the danger to himself. His younger brother Gordon was also killed during the war while serving with the Royal Australian Air Force. (Anzac Portal)

French is commemorated by several memorials in Queensland, including the John French VC Memorial Library at Crows Nest, dedicated by Governor-General Field Marshal Viscount Slim on 18 July 1958. His courage at Milne Bay remains one of the most remarkable acts of individual gallantry performed by an Australian soldier during the Second World War.

Victoria Cross Citation

The advance of the section of which Corporal French was in command was held up by fire from three enemy machine-gun posts. Corporal French ordered his section to take cover, advanced alone and silenced the first position with grenades. He returned for more grenades and again advanced, destroying the second post.

Armed with a Thompson sub-machine gun, he then attacked the third position, firing from the hip as he moved forward. Although badly wounded, he continued his advance until the enemy gun ceased firing. When his section moved forward, they found that the crews of all three positions had been killed and that Corporal French had died in front of the third gun pit.

Through his cool courage and complete disregard for his own safety, he saved his section from heavy casualties and ensured the successful conclusion of the attack.

Paraphrased from the official citation published in the London Gazette, Supplement 35862, page 319, January 1943. (Anzac Portal)