Description
A Good Officers Queens South Africa – Royal Irish Regiment.
Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, no clasp, (Capt C.N. French Rl. Irish Rgt)
Charles Noel French was born on 25 December 1878 at Potter Heigham, Norfolk. He was the son of the Reverand William French and his wife Caroline.
In 1881 French was living at Potter Heigham, Norfolk; in 1891 he was living at Ellingham, Norfolk.
French was commissioned into the 5th (Kilkenny Militia) Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment.
Gentleman to be 2nd Lieutenant 6 April 1898
Lieutenant 5 July 1899
Captain 19 July 1900
Hon Captain in the Army 7 July 1901
Transferred to the Lancashire Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia) as a Captain 25 August 1906.
He married Brentford in 1907, to Edna Maria Garnham.
Resigned his commission 31 March 1908.
French was living in Streatham and was employed as a civil servant with the London Telephone Service (later the GPO).
Served October 1914 to March 1920 as a Captain in the Royal Garrison Artillery and later in the Royal Engineers (Signals). His Medal Index Card states, “Served in England only.” Not entitled to World War One medals.
By 1939 he was living in Pinner.
French died 5 April 1955, while living at 12a Holwell Place, Pinner, Middlesex.
Author of: A Journey from the River Juba by Dolo, Moyale and Mount Marsabit to the Uaso Nyiro in The Geographical Journal, Vol 42, No.5 (November 1913), pp.430-435
War Services of Officers of the Militia Infantry states: “Captain French served in the South African War in 1902; took part in operations in Cape Colony January-May 1902.”
War Services of Military Officers (1920) states: “French, C.N. (Maj. Res. Of Officers) S. African War, 1902 – Operations in Cape Colony January to 31 May 1902.’
French, C.N. (Capt 5th Bn. R.Ir. Regt.) – S. African War, 1902. – Operations in Cape Colony, Jan. to 31 May 02.
Note: French does not appear on the QSA rolls for the Royal Irish Regiment. He appears on WO 100/ 172, the roll for the 3rdBattalion the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. He is shown as entitled to the single clasp ‘South Africa 1902’.
Condition – Fine, due to damage to naming which has severe impact damage (see photos) BUT naming is still clearly readable.
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