Lieutenant-Colonel John French was born on 28 September 1852 in Kent and before joining the army, he signed up with the Royal Navy.
French became a national hero during the Second Boer War. He saw action at the Battle of Elandslaagte before taking over command of a Cavalry Division in the Cape Colony and seeing action in battles before the Relief of Mafeking.
He was very active during the Guerrilla phase of the war in trying to capture de Wet.
