FREDERICK+T.+FRENCH

French, Frederick Thomas, Lance Corporal, 36218, 7th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment Formerly 49873, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment Born Ashbourne, Derbyshire Enlisted Tibshelf, Derbyshire Resided Alfreton, Derbyshire Killed in action 30th October 1917 aged 29 Husband of the late Mary French. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial

1911 Census An assistant grocer Son of Alice Ellen French, of Station Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire

Ashbourne News, 6th July 1917

PTE. F. FRENCH WOUNDED

Private Fred French, eldest son of the late Mr. George French and of Mrs. French, South-street, Ashbourne, is reported wounded. Pte. French, who belongs to the Leicesters, was on sentry when he received his injuries, which are being treated in hospital in France.

Ashbourne News, 16th November 1917

LANCE-CORPL. F. T. FRENCH KILLED

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Lance-corporal Fred T. French, of the Leicester Regiment, has been killed in action. He was the eldest son of Mrs. French, South-street, Ashbourne, and was 28 years of age. He served his apprenticeship with M. T. Edge, Dig-street, and before removing to Newton, near Alfreton, he had completed four years service with the Ashbourne Territorials. He joined the Leicester Regiment on June 1st, 1916, and underwent training at Brocton Camp, Staffs., being drafted to France on December 16th last. During his service in France he had several narrow escapes, and on two occasions the comrade next to him was killed, he himself receiving slight injuries. On another occasion a bomb was dropped on the roof of a training school, and the poor lad next to him had a leg blown off. Later, French was struck by a grenade while on sentry, one of a party of Germans who had come out of a trench to give themselves up having had the grenade concealed on him. It burst just over his head, and he was wounded in the back. Only a fortnight before he was killed he was put in charge of a Lewis gun section and received his promotion. Lance-corpl. French leaves a widow and a sixteen months-old child, who reside at Newton. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The intimation of the death of Lance-corpl. French was conveyed in the following letter from Second-Lieut. H. Willson, of the Leicester Regiment:- “<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">It is with very deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband, Lance-corpl. French, who was killed in action on the morning of -. He has been in my platoon for a long time, and I need hardly say that he was a most gallant, willing, and smart soldier. It was only a fortnight ago that he was promoted and put in charge of a Lewis gun section. He was buried, and a cross erected. He was respected by all the officers, N.C.O.’s and men of his company, and I shall feel his loss to my platoon tremendously. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement.” <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">A comrade also wrote to Mrs. French as follows:- “<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">No doubt by the time you receive this you will have heard the sad news of your husband’s death. It came as a great blow to us, as he was well liked by all in his company. It will be some comfort to you to know that his death was instantaneous. I was present at his burial, and we erected a cross having his name and regiment to mark his grave. All the boys of the company send their deepest sympathy in your bereavement.”


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