JACK EDWIN FRENCH
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG”: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Images courtesy of Pat French.
Born: 19th January 1918, Ipswich.
Died: 12th May 1944; age 26; Died from a shrapnel injury, during an Allied bombing raid on the 12th May 1944, at PoW Camp Stalag IV B.
At the camp Jack was a Supply/Store Controller at warehouse 22. His (kriegsgefanger number) prisoner of war number – 250,128.
Son of GEORGE EDWIN FRENCH, brother to ALFRED EDGAR FRENCH.
Rank: Gunner; Service Number: 953067.
Regiment: Royal Artillery, 67 Medium Regiment.
The body was originally buried at row 6, grave 111, at (Brus) Most Cemetery. On the 17th August 1947, the body was exhumed, identified and reburied at Prague (Olšany) War Cemetery, Czech Republic.
Grave Reference:
I.B.1.
Czech Republic.
Father: George Edwin French, born 1879, Ipswich.
Mother: Maud Alice French (nee Aldous), 1884, born Flowton, Suffolk.
Brother: Eric Roy French, born 1926, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1921 206, Rose Hill Road, Ipswich.
Jack was 2 years & 6 months old and lived with his parents and siblings.
George French, 40 years & 5 months old, a Fitter for Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies – Agricultural Implement Manufacturers, of Plough Works.
Maud French, 37 years & 6 months old, Home Duties.
Arthur George French, 18 years & 5 months old, a Carpenter on Electric Vehicles for Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies – Agricultural Implement Manufacturers, of Cavendish Street, Ipswich, born Ipswich.
James Stanley French, 16 years & 11 months old, a Fitter’s Assistant for Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies – Agricultural Implement Manufacturers, of Plough Works, born Ipswich.
Robert Charles French, 14 years & 6 months old, an Errand Boy for Mr. Keeler – Furniture Dealer, of 6, Tomline Road, Ipswich, born Ipswich.
Doris Maud French, 12 years & 6 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
Ivy Maud French, 9 years & 11 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
Emily Ada French, 8 years & 6 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
Alfred Edgar French, 5 years and 9 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
Nellie Mabel French, a year old, born Ipswich.
In 1940, in Ipswich, Jack married Nancy Olive Gorringe, born 1917, Tostock, Suffolk – daughter of William Fenn Gorringe, a journeyman house decorator, and Olive Rosetta Gorringe (nee Haselwood), of 57, Shackleton Road, Ipswich.
Cavendish Street School late 1920s and early 1930s courtesy of Pat Dowsing.
A school photo of Jack French together with Edward Foulger (who died in the SS Scillin incident) and Arthur Chisnall (who was killed fighting in the desert. All died in the War.
Jack’s father, George Edwin French also died when M.V. ‘Sweep’ II struck a mine and sunk at Landguard Port, Felixstowe, on the 5th June 1940, aged 61.
Jack’s brother, Alfred Edgar French, also died on the 6th March 1942, aged 26. He was a Sapper, service number 1883555, in the Royal Engineers, 1 Field Squadron. Alfred is remembered at the Alamein Memorial, Egypt.
Probate to Nancy Olive French, of 17, Verbena Gardens, Hammersmith. The home of her uncle.
67th Medium Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
HQ, 232nd (Suffolk) Bty: Ipswich
231st (Suffolk) Bty: Sudbury
67th Medium Regiment served under the command of IV Corps Artillery in the autumn of 1940. It was sent to North Africa in October 1941 as part of the Crusader convoys. It served under the 8th Army in the campaigns in the Western Desert from November 1941 until June 1942. It supported the South African attack on Bardia in December 1941. The regiment added (Suffolk) to its name on 17 February 1942. It was captured at Tobruk on 20 June 1942. Due to casualties, the regiment was reduced to a cadre on 7 September 1942.
The regiment was reformed at Hunstanton, Norfolk on 7 February 1943 from 167th Field Regiment. It joined 3rd Army Group RA on its formation on 11 February 1943 at 49 Trant Road, Tunbridge Wells. It served in Northwest Europe with this formation from June 1944 until the end of the war.
Note: Felix Beecroft (also an Ipswich man) mentions Jack French in his ‘World War Two Memories’. After being taken prisoner at Tobruk on 21st June 1942, Felix was moved to a POW camp in Benghazi where he stayed for 4 months. While he was there he says, “We slept six in a bivvy. Jack French and I slept side by side, one blanket under us and one over and we never undressed. We were constantly hungry and I saw pairs of boots and gold rings given over the wire for small buns of bread”.
Leave a Reply