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Corporal John Alexander French

Commemorated at
Given name
John Alexander
Family name
French
Gender
Male
Service number
QX1071
Conflicts
Second World War, 1939–45
Campaign
South-West Pacific 1942 - 1945
Fate
Killed in action (KIA)
Fate date
04 September 1942
Additional information
Place of birth
Crows Nest, Queensland
Last held rank
Corporal
Unit at embarkation
2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion
Service
Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF)
Decorations
Victoria Cross
Veteran Notes/Bio

Born on 15 July 1914 in Crows Nest, Queensland, John Alexander French enlisted at Toowoomba, Queensland, on 22 October 1939.

As a Corporal in the 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion, he was killed in action in Papua on 4 September 1942. He was buried in the Port Moresby (Boman) War Cemetery, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

In January 1943, a Victoria Cross was posthumously awarded to Corporal French for gallantry during the Allied attack on Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. The award was reported in the Queensland Times on 15 January and included excerpts of the citation, including the below:

By his cool courage and disregard of his personal safety, this non-commissioned officer saved his section from heavy causalities and was responsible for the successful conclusion of the attack. 

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