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Goraziy Smith-DorrienEnglish Full General (1912).
Date of Birth: 26.05.1858
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
John French
Early Career1876: Entered the British Army
Participated in the Sandhurst Expedition (1878) and the Zulu War
Served in Bengal (1893-94), Punjab (1894-96), and South Africa (1899-1902)
Staff and Command Appointments
1887: Graduated from the Staff College1900-03: Adjutant-General in India
1903-07: Commander of the 4th Division (India)
1907-12: Commander-in-Chief of Aldershot Command
1911-14: Commander-in-Chief of Southern Command
World War I
1914: Commander of the 1st Army Corps on the Western Front
Appointed Commander of the 2nd Army in December 1914
Responsible for a sector of the front near Ypres
Faced the first German gas attack at Ypres in April 1915
Ordered a series of unsuccessful attacks that resulted in heavy losses
Replaced as Commander of the 2nd Army by General Plumer and appointed Commander-in-Chief of East African Forces
Later Career
1918-1923: Governor of Gibraltar1923: Retired from military service
1930: Died in a car accident
Legacy
John French was a British general who served in the Boer War and World War I. He is best known for his command of the British Expeditionary Force in France in 1914. His decision to halt his corps at Le Cateau despite pressure from Marshal French contributed to slowing the German advance. However, his leadership during the Battle of Ypres was controversial, with critics blaming him for unnecessary losses. Despite his setbacks, French remained a respected figure in British military history.
