Pte
Joseph French
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 29/12/1895 |
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Place of birth: Dallas, Moray, Scotland, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 265123 |
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Enlistment place: Garmouth, Moray, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Seaforth Highlanders, 1/6th Bn. (Morayshire) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 31/07/1917 |
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Place of death: No Man's Cot, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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No Man's Cot Cemetery Plot: / Row: A Grave: 1 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Pte. Joseph French was part of the 6th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders (152nd Brigade, 51st Division) and took part in the opening battle on 31 July 1917 of the Battle of Passchendaele. The Battalion frontage stretched from the Lekkerboterbeek on the right to White House on the left (Poelcapelle Area), in the extreme left of the Corps frontage. The 6th Bn. Seaforths were responsible for taking the 2nd and 3rd objective on the left (McDonald Wood to Hurst Wood) and the 4th objective (area of Ferdinand Farm). Jumping off at zero hour, 3.50 AM, the objectives Maison Du Rasta and Maison Bulgare were reached as outposts to the newly gained frontline.
Medical arrangements were made. The Aid-Post of the Battalion would move forward after capturing the Black Outpost Line to the neighborhood of road junction at C.15.b.3.4., not too far from No Man’s Cot. After capturing the Green Line (4th objective), the Aid-Post would again move forward. Pte. Joseph French lost his life during this attack and was buried at No Man’s Cot, were he is still remembered today.
After the war his mother Elizabeth French went on a pilgrimage to find the grave of here son. Her search was documented as a column in The Northern Scot in 1922, starting with ‘Visit to a Seaforth Grave at Ypres’ till ‘Standing by the side of a little wooden cross’.
Medical arrangements were made. The Aid-Post of the Battalion would move forward after capturing the Black Outpost Line to the neighborhood of road junction at C.15.b.3.4., not too far from No Man’s Cot. After capturing the Green Line (4th objective), the Aid-Post would again move forward. Pte. Joseph French lost his life during this attack and was buried at No Man’s Cot, were he is still remembered today.
After the war his mother Elizabeth French went on a pilgrimage to find the grave of here son. Her search was documented as a column in The Northern Scot in 1922, starting with ‘Visit to a Seaforth Grave at Ypres’ till ‘Standing by the side of a little wooden cross’.
Sources 5
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/447453/j-french/ Sources used |
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Documentatiemap Joseph French, In Flanders Fields Museum Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |
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War Diary 6th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders, 152th Brigade http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |