Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 4058    SESSION 19 (2.30PM FRIDAY 28TH JULY)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $1,650,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,460,000

VICTORIA CROSS GROUP OF SEVEN TO KIA: Victoria Cross; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45.No QX1071;Corpl John Alexander French 2/9th Inf. Bn. A.I.F. on the suspension bar and 4th September 1942 in the centre of the reverse on first medal, QX1017 J.A.French on other medals. The first medal engraved, the other medals impressed. The first medal with pin-back ribbon suspension, the other medals court mounted, extremely fine - uncirculated.

Together with case by Hancocks & Co for VC; original printed and hand written AMF Will dated 27th November 1939 of John Alexander French QX1071 2/9 Bn. 2 A.I.F. in which he leaves everything to his father, Albert French; a binder containing a portfolio of handwritten letters (37) and air mail letterheads (2) by Jack French to his mother between 30/3/1940 to 23/8/1942 from Egypt (3), Ingleburn, NSW (1), Mauretania (1), At Sea (4), England (3), Army PO Abroad (1), Abroad (1), Army PO England (2), No Location (10), Desert (3), Worcestershire (1), Crows Nest, Qld (1), Syria (3), Middle East (1), Tenterfield, NSW (1), Australia (3), several include postage envelope (20), also several on stationery with printed letterhead for The Salvation Army (17), Australian Comforts Fund (5), Church of England Huts (1) and American Red Cross (1), with two letters with some words cut-out by the censor. In one letter from Egypt dated 10 February 1941 French mentions a visit to his unit by the Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies. Note: Menzies was on his way to England for discussions with Churchill and took the opportunity to stop off on the way to visit Australian troops serving in the North African Campaign.

VC: LG 14/1/1943, p319; CAG 21/1/1943, p141, to Corporal John Alexander French, 2/9/Aust Infy Bn.

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery in operations in the South-West Pacific Area - Victoria Cross (Posthumous) to Corporal John Alexander French, QX1071.

At Milne Bay on the afternoon of 4th September, 1942, a company of an Australian Infantry Battalion attacked a Japanese position where it encountered terrific rifle and machine gun fire. Advance of the section of which Corporal French was in command was held up by fire from three enemy machine gun posts, whereupon Corporal French, ordering his section to take cover, advanced and silenced one of the posts with grenades. He returned to his section for more grenades and again advanced and silenced the second post.

Armed with a Thompson sub-machine gun he then attacked the third post, firing from the hip as he went forward. He was seen to be badly hit by fire from this post, but he continued to advance. The enemy gun then ceased to fire and his section pushed on to find all the members of the three enemy crews had been killed and that Corporal French had died in front of the third gunpit.

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

John (Jack) Alexander French, hairdresser, age 25, born at Crows Nest, Qld; Enl.22Oct1939 at Toowoomba, Qld; Emb.15May1940 with 2/9 Aust Infy Bn; Disemb.17Jun1940 at Gourock, Scotland; Emb.16Nov1940 from Glasgow, Scotland for Middle East; Disemb.31Dec1940 at Alexandria in the Middle East and 2/9th captured the Italian fort of Giarabub in Libya and then joined the garrison at Tobruk before further training in Palestine and then service in Syria; to A/Cpl 22Dec1941; RTA 28Mar1942; Emb.07Aug1942; Disemb.14Aug1942 at New Guinea; KIA 04Sep1942 at Milne Bay, New Guinea and awarded Victoria Cross (posthumously); buried at Milne Bay War Cemetery, later retrieved and re-interred at Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery; J.A.French VC is commemorated at the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour; Corporal John French V.C. Memorial Bridge; Crows Nest (Qld) War Memorial; Greenslopes Private Hospital 'The John French Wing'; Keith Payne VC Memorial Park; Newtown State School Honour Roll; North Bondi War Memorial; Toowoomba Roll of Honour WW2; Toowoomba Roll of Honour Book; Toowoomba War Memorial (Mother's Memorial).

Former Sydney radio host and author, Ian Parry-Oakden's father, was an officer in the 2/9th Battalion and on 24 December 1942 assumed command after the battalion's commanding officer was wounded and Major W.N.F. Parry-Oakden was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his courage and tactical skill.