Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Dickebusch Old Military Cemetery | Sp. Mem. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.122 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 54D GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 5th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry |
| Action : Other actions in Spring 1915 |
The official dates cover the period from 15th June 1915 to 8th August 1915. This is the period on the Western Front following the piecemeal engagements North of the La Bassee canal at Aubers Ridge, Festubert & Givenchy but before the Battle of Loos, the largest Western Front battle of 1915.
Detail :
FRENCH, VALENTINE DOUGLAS, 2nd Lieut., 5th (Service) Battn. Shropshire L I : 3rd son of the Hon. John French. of .Miramar. Queenstown, born. Peatra House, Frcnchpark, co. Roscommon, 3 Jan 1889; educ. Jesuits College Limerick ; gazetted to the 5th Btn. Royal Munster Fusiliers, 9 April. 1906 ; but retired in 1907 and became Manager of the Shelford Rubber Estate at Klang, .Malay States. On the outbreak of war he returned home and received a commission in the 5th King's Shropshire LI 10 March, 1915; went to France with his regt. on 20 May. and died 16 June, 1915, of wounds received in action, and was buried in Dickebusch Churchyard, at the corner of the south wall of Sanctuary ; Capt. H. Measor wrote : When we knew at the last moment before leaving England that he was coming with us, all of us, and we C Coy.officers in particular, were delighted that we should have him with us. His wonderful good spirits and cheeriness at all times was a tonic of inestimable value to those of us who are not blessed with as stout a heart and as great courage as he was. I last saw him standing in a field which was swept with a hail of shrapnel, cheering tlie men of his platoon on. and seeing them all into the comparative safety of a concentration trench before he took any advantage of the cover himself, and ever after he was hit I am told that he went on encouraging his men and giving them heart. Lieut. French's elder brother was wounded in the same action, and has since died of his wounds. His cousins Lord De Freyne and the Hon. George French were killed in action a few weeks previously.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Klang No. 3369 E.C. | Eastern Archipelago |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
4th August 1911 | 1st September 1911 | 18th December 1911 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley