Born 3 June 1889, one of five children of Charles Jubilee Hill French and Femonoth? Fearmonoth? McLean. Began working as a school teacher ca.1910, mostly in northern Queensland, including Cairns and Charters Towers. He served in the Kennedy Regiment before World War 1. French went with the regiment to Thursday Island and volunteered with “Kanowna boys for service in the Pacific.”

French joined 41st Battalion AIF in April 1916, aged 26. He was appointed Captain in Oct 1916. He was awarded a Military Cross and bar, both in 1918. The notation for his Bar was: “for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. With two men he attacked a battery of 4.2-in guns and personally shot the officer and captured the others of the battery. He also exhibited great courage in attacking the many machine-gun positions encountered during the advance.”
During his service French was wounded several times, including gassed. He returned to Australia March 1919 and his commission terminated in Dec that year.

French resumed work as a teacher at Charters Towers Central and in 1920 he was transferred to Coorparoo State School, where he remained for many years. For many years he gave the Anzac Day addresses at the school on behalf of the RSSILA.
In July 1920 French was invested with his MC bar by the visiting Prince of Wales. In 1923 he married Pearl Constance Paten, a World War 1 nurse and masseuse.
French remained involved in military activities and was officially involved in the recruitment and processing of Queenslanders for the 2nd AIF in 1939. He occupied senior positions at Redbank and later Enoggera.
French was also active in commemorations and reunions of the 41st Battalion AIF. He held various senior positions on committees such as the Reunion Committee.
French died in 1976.
Research by Tracy Ryan. Sources: object file N7073-7088; trove newspapers online, NAA.