Name
Henry French
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/11/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14240
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY
II. A. 14A.
France
Headstone Inscription
Our sweetest thoughts will ever linger round the spot where you are laid
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin War Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
His home was in 12, Telegraph Place, Hitchin where his parents, Mr and Mrs Harry French lived. His parents were Henry and Sarah French of Hitchin and he was their eldest son.
He was born in Hitchin, resided and enlisted there as a volunteer in September 1914.
Wartime Service
Henry was sent to France in July 1915 and fought at Loos and on the Somme where he was injured. He was in the 6th Battalion and his Regimental Number was 14240.
He was most probably injured on or about the 14th November 1916 at Mailly-Maillet near the Ancre River where the Battalion attacked Frankfort trench and the following day attacked Munich trench. There were several casualties at this time. His brother, Jack French, was in the same Company and saw the wounds inflicted.
He was buried in Plot 2, Row A, Grave 14A in the Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France. Wimereaux is on the coast near Boulogne and he would have been moved there from the front. The stones in this Cemetery are laid flat probably due to subsidence in the area. A private inscription on the stone reads "Our sweetest thoughts will ever linger round the spot where you are laid".
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
