Alfred Charles FRENCH DCM

FRENCH, Alfred Charles

Service Numbers: 1941, 1941A
Enlisted: 4 August 1915, Claremont, Tasmania
Last Rank: Regimental Sergeant Major
Last Unit: 15th Light Horse Regiment
Born: Barrington, Tasmania, Australia, January 1892
Home Town: Sisters Creek, Waratah/Wynyard, Tasmania
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Forest, Tasmania, Australia, 18 July 1973, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Circular Head Lawn Cemetery, Tasmania, Australia
Memorials: Kentish Municipality Honour Roll Mural
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World War 1 Service

4 Aug 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1941, Claremont, Tasmania
5 Oct 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1941, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: ''
5 Oct 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1941, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Afric, Melbourne
19 Sep 1918: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Megiddo - Syria 1918, Conspicuous gallantry
4 Dec 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Regimental Sergeant Major, 1941A, 15th Light Horse Regiment

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

His younger brother, 2918 Pte. George Richard French 12th Battalion AIF was killed in action at Pozieres 22 July 1916, aged 23. Another brother, 414 Pte. Herbert Rayner French 3rd Light Horse Regiment enlisted in 1914 and returned in 1919.

They were the sons of Charles and Ellen French of Sisters Creek, Tasmania.

Alfred French was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal ‘For conspicuous gallantry near Tul Keram, on 19 September, 1918. He vigorously led a party of men in a charge, and cut off an enemy crew who were attempting to work a field gun. His action was of a particularly daring nature, and resulted in the capture of over forty prisoners, he himself having only half a dozen men.’

He returned to Australia in September 1919 as a Warrant Officer, having started the war as a Private in 1915. He married in 1925 and raised a large family.

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