Part 1 (1/2)

Sir John French

by Cecil Chisholm

INTRODUCTION

BY FIELD-MARSHAL SIR EVELYN WOOD, VC

I regard John Denton French as theforce of tactical instruction in the British Army He made use of all the best ideas of the Generals who preceded him in the Aldershot Co the appoint to succeed in turn to that nursery of soldiers

How sound his judgment has proved to be may be discovered from the dispatches--carefully worded--in which he describes how Smith-Dorrien conducted the most successful retreat since that of Sir John Moore to Corunna, 1808-9, and how Douglas Haig carried his Army across the Aisne river in the face of the enemy's fire opposition

From 1884-5, when as a Squadron Officer he showed marked determination in the abortive expedition for the relief of Gordon, until 1899-1902 in South Africa, he has been the foremost man to inculcate the ”Cavalry Spirit,” and unlike many advocates of that spirit, he has never become a slave to the idea He has been at pains to teach the Cavalry soldier that when he can no longer fight to the best advantage in the saddle, he is to get off his horse and fight on foot This is a enius

He is intensely practical; and he is possessed of great e which never fail to assert themselves in the face of the most difficult situations They were conspicuously shown during the Boer War when, with an extraordinary determination, he formed up his men on their tired and exhausted horses and advanced in extended order, galloping through the Boers in position, and reaching Kimberley as the result of his heroic deters were not going well, I was asked to give my opinion of our chances of success I said that I did not think that our prospects were then bright, but although one ”Hands up” before John French, he would never put up his ohatever happened

EVELYN WOOD, F-M

_Noveraphy of Field-Marshal Sir John French I have been deeply indebted tome with first-hand impressions of our General in the Field A number ofthose to whom I owe sincere thanks for personal assistance are Lady French, Mr

JRL French, Mrs Despard, Field-Marshal Earl Roberts, Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood, General Bewicke Copley, Colonel EK Aylener, Colonel Kendal Coghill, Colonel Charles E Warde, MP, the Editor of the _Ar, the Editor of the _Regiment_, Mr Frederick W Carter, Mr Leonard Crocombe and Mr SR

Littlewood, who put valuable rateful for any further biographical particulars, stories, or corrections for incorporation in subsequent editions: all communications should be addressed to me, care of my publishers

CC

SIR JOHN FRENCH

CHAPTER I

EARLY DAYS

A Kentish Celt--A Rebellious Boy--Four Years in the Navy--With the 19th Hussars--”Captain X Trees”--A Studious Subaltern--Chafing at Home--The First Opportunity

”If I don't end , and--well, I' to do it” In these words, uttered roup of brother officers in the mess room of the 19th Hussars, Sir John French quite unconsciously epitorapher can hope to equal The conversation had turned upon luck, a word that curiously enough was later to be so intimately associated with French's name One man had stoutly proclaimed that all promotion was a matter of luck, and French had claimed that only work and ability really counted in the end Yet ”French's luck” has become almost a service proverb--for those who have not closely studied his career Luck is frequently a word used to explain our own failure and another man's success

Not that success and John French could ever have been strangers There are some happy natures whose destiny is never in doubt, Providence having apparently planned it half a century ahead Sir John French is a striking instance of this Destiny never had any doubt about the hter On his father's side he comes of the famous old Galway family of which Lord de Freyne, of French Park, Co

Roscommon, is now the head By tradition the Frenches are a naval fah there have been fast its ht in the aroons at Aughrim in 1689