Difference between revisions of "Wilfred Frankland French"

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to navigationJump to search
(Update appts)
(add RN/RNR/RNVR categories)
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{AdmRN}} {{SIR}} '''Wilfred Frankland French''', K.C.B., C.M.G., (9 November, 1880 – 6 December, 1958) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]].
+
{{AdmRN}} {{SIR}} '''Wilfred Frankland French''', K.C.B., C.M.G., Retired (9 November, 1880 – 6 December, 1958) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]].
  
 
==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
−
<!--He was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on  
+
French was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 1 April, 1902.<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref>
  
−
He was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on  
+
He was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1912.<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.|}} f. 205.</ref>
  
−
-->
+
French was executive officer of the dreadnought {{UK-Centurion|f=t}} at the [[Battle of Jutland]].<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.|}} f. 205.</ref>
−
He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1917.
 
  
−
On 15 November, 1920, French was given a temporary appointment on the Naval Staff's Gunnery Division under Captain [[Frederic Charles Dreyer|F. C. Dreyer]],{{NLJan21|p. 1817}} but in December, he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Centaur|f=t}}.{{MackieRNW}}
+
He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1917.<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.|}} f. 205.</ref>
  
−
He was appointed in command of the {{UK-Hood|f=t}} on 21 May, 1927.{{TaylorHood|p. 230}}
+
On 15 November, 1920, French was given a temporary appointment on the Naval Staff's Gunnery Division under Captain [[Frederic Charles Dreyer|F. C. Dreyer]],{{NLJan21|p. 1817}} but in December, he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Centaur|f=t}}.
 +
 
 +
He was appointed in command of the {{UK-Hood|f=t}} on 21 May, 1927.{{TaylorHood|p. 230}} In 1929, it was recorded that his work in employing the ship's secondary batteries in an anti-aircraft role was noted with satisfaction.<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref>
 +
 
 +
French was promoted to {{RearRN}} on 25 May, 1929.<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.|}} f. 205.</ref>
 +
 
 +
In 1932, there was a Court of Enquiry into discontent in the Marine Detachment in {{UK-Warspite|f=p}}.  The Admiralty faulted French for forwarding his report on the matter before Major [[Edmund Montgomerie Campbell Parker|E. M. C. Parker]] had had sufficient opportunity to answer charges made against him in the affair.<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.|}} f. 205.</ref>
 +
 
 +
French was promoted to {{ViceRN}} on 11 February, 1934.<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.|}} f. 205.</ref>
 +
 
 +
French was placed on the Retired List on 21 October, 1938 and promoted to {{AdmRN}} (retired) on 3 May, 1939.<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.|}} f. 205.</ref>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
 +
* [[H.M.S. Centurion at the Battle of Jutland]]
 
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_French}}
 
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_French}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
Line 20: Line 30:
 
==Service Records==
 
==Service Records==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
−
* {{TNA|ADM 196/142/294}}
+
* {{TNA|ADM 196/142/294.|}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
−
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Osea Naval Base|In Command, Osea Naval Base]]'''<br>20 Mar, 1918{{NLFeb20|p. 819}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George James Todd|George J. Todd]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Alldin Usborne Moore|Alldin U. Moore]]'''|'''[[Naval Ordnance Department (Royal Navy)|Assistant to the Director of Naval Ordnance]]'''<br>1 Sep, 1913<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref> &ndash; 2 Jul, 1915<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alldin Usborne Moore|Alldin U. Moore]]'''}}
−
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Karslake Kitson|Henry K. Kitson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Centaur (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Centaur'']]'''<br>Dec, 1920{{MackieRNW}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Dominick Burke|Charles D. Burke]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Osea Naval Base|In Command, Osea Naval Base]]'''<br>20 Mar, 1918<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref>{{NLFeb20|p. 819}} &ndash; 15 May, 1919<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George James Todd|George J. Todd]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Karslake Kitson|Henry K. Kitson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Centaur (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Centaur'']]'''<br>1 Jan, 1921<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref> &ndash; 31 Dec, 1922<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Dominick Burke|Charles D. Burke]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Vivian Usborne|Cecil V. Usborne]]'''|'''[[Gunnery Division (Royal Navy)|Deputy Director of the Gunnery Division]]'''<br>10 Mar, 1923<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.|}}  f. 203.</ref> &ndash; 15 Feb, 1925<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.|}}  f. 203.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Leonard Stanley Holbrook|Leonard S. Holbrook]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Vivian Usborne|Cecil V. Usborne]]'''|'''[[Chemical Warfare Committee|Vice-President of the Chemical Warfare Committee]]'''<br>15 Feb, 1925 &ndash; 1 Feb, 1927|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Raymond Fitzmaurice|Raymond Fitzmaurice]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Vivian Usborne|Cecil V. Usborne]]'''|'''[[Chemical Warfare Committee|Vice-President of the Chemical Warfare Committee]]'''<br>15 Feb, 1925 &ndash; 1 Feb, 1927|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Raymond Fitzmaurice|Raymond Fitzmaurice]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Harold Owen Reinold|Harold O. Reinold]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hood (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hood'']]'''<br>21 May, 1927{{NLFeb29|p. 245}}{{TaylorHood|p. 230}} &ndash; 13 Jan, 1930|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Julian Francis Chichester Patterson|Julian F. C. Patterson]]'''}}
 
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Harold Owen Reinold|Harold O. Reinold]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hood (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hood'']]'''<br>21 May, 1927{{NLFeb29|p. 245}}{{TaylorHood|p. 230}} &ndash; 13 Jan, 1930|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Julian Francis Chichester Patterson|Julian F. C. Patterson]]'''}}
−
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Coldingham Masters Nicholson|Sir William C. M. Nicholson]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron'''</small>|'''[[Second Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron]]'''<br>? &ndash; 15 Dec, 1932|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Ragnar Musgrave Colvin|Ragnar M. Colvin]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Coldingham Masters Nicholson|Sir William C. M. Nicholson]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron'''</small>|'''[[Second Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron]]'''<br>25 Apr, 1931<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref> &ndash; 15 Dec, 1932<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Ragnar Musgrave Colvin|Ragnar M. Colvin]]'''}}
−
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Matthew Robert Best|The Hon. Matthew R. Best]]'''|'''[[Malta Dockyard|Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard]]'''<br>? &ndash; ''c''. 24 Jan, 1937<ref>Successor assumed command that day.  Ford Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45.|}} f. 180.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Wilbraham Tennyson Randle Ford|Wilbraham T. R. Ford]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Matthew Robert Best|The Hon. Matthew R. Best]]'''|'''[[Malta Dockyard|Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard]]'''<br>26 Dec, 1933{{NLOct35|p. 270}} &ndash; ''c''. 24 Jan, 1937<ref>Successor assumed command that day.  Ford Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45.|}} f. 180.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Wilbraham Tennyson Randle Ford|Wilbraham T. R. Ford]]'''}}
−
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Robert John Prendergast|Sir Robert J. Prendergast]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands'''</small>|'''[[Orkneys and Shetlands|Flag Officer Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands]]'''<br>? &ndash; 20 Dec, 1939<ref>Superseded that day.  Binney Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/9.|D7603913}} f. 412.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Thomas Hugh Binney|Thomas H. Binney]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Robert John Prendergast|Sir Robert J. Prendergast]]'''<br><small>as '''Vice-Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands'''</small>|'''[[Orkneys and Shetlands|Flag Officer Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands]]'''<br>25 Aug, 1939<ref>French Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/45/199.}} f. 205.</ref> &ndash; 20 Dec, 1939<ref>Superseded that day.  Binney Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/9.|D7603913}} f. 412.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Thomas Hugh Binney|Thomas H. Binney]]'''}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
</div name=fredbot:appts>
 
</div name=fredbot:appts>
Line 44: Line 56:
 
{{CatBritannia|July, 1894}}
 
{{CatBritannia|July, 1894}}
 
{{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}}
 
{{CatGunneryOfficer|UK}}
 +
{{CatRN}}

Latest revision as of 22:59, 6 April 2022

Admiral SIR Wilfred Frankland French, K.C.B., C.M.G., Retired (9 November, 1880 – 6 December, 1958) was an officer in the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

French was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1902.[1]

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1912.[2]

French was executive officer of the dreadnought battleship Centurion at the Battle of Jutland.[3]

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1917.[4]

On 15 November, 1920, French was given a temporary appointment on the Naval Staff's Gunnery Division under Captain F. C. Dreyer,[5] but in December, he was appointed in command of the light cruiser Centaur.

He was appointed in command of the battlecruiser Hood on 21 May, 1927.[6] In 1929, it was recorded that his work in employing the ship's secondary batteries in an anti-aircraft role was noted with satisfaction.[7]

French was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 25 May, 1929.[8]

In 1932, there was a Court of Enquiry into discontent in the Marine Detachment in H.M.S. Warspite. The Admiralty faulted French for forwarding his report on the matter before Major E. M. C. Parker had had sufficient opportunity to answer charges made against him in the affair.[9]

French was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 11 February, 1934.[10]

French was placed on the Retired List on 21 October, 1938 and promoted to Admiral (retired) on 3 May, 1939.[11]

See Also

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Alldin U. Moore 		Assistant to the Director of Naval Ordnance
1 Sep, 1913[12] – 2 Jul, 1915[13] 		Succeeded by
Alldin U. Moore
Preceded by
? 		In Command, Osea Naval Base
20 Mar, 1918[14][15] – 15 May, 1919[16] 		Succeeded by
George J. Todd
Preceded by
Henry K. Kitson 		Captain of H.M.S. Centaur
1 Jan, 1921[17] – 31 Dec, 1922[18] 		Succeeded by
Charles D. Burke
Preceded by
Cecil V. Usborne 		Deputy Director of the Gunnery Division
10 Mar, 1923[19] – 15 Feb, 1925[20] 		Succeeded by
Leonard S. Holbrook
Preceded by
Cecil V. Usborne 		Vice-President of the Chemical Warfare Committee
15 Feb, 1925 – 1 Feb, 1927 		Succeeded by
Raymond Fitzmaurice
Preceded by
Harold O. Reinold 		Captain of H.M.S. Hood
21 May, 1927[21][22] – 13 Jan, 1930 		Succeeded by
Julian F. C. Patterson
Preceded by
Sir William C. M. Nicholson
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron
25 Apr, 1931[23] – 15 Dec, 1932[24] 		Succeeded by
Ragnar M. Colvin
Preceded by
The Hon. Matthew R. Best 		Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard
26 Dec, 1933[25] – c. 24 Jan, 1937[26] 		Succeeded by
Wilbraham T. R. Ford
Preceded by
Sir Robert J. Prendergast
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands 		Flag Officer Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands
25 Aug, 1939[27] – 20 Dec, 1939[28] 		Succeeded by
Thomas H. Binney

Footnotes

  1. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  2. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  3. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  4. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  5. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 1817.
  6. ↑ Taylor. The Battlecruiser Hood. p. 230.
  7. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  8. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  9. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  10. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  11. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  12. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  13. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  14. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  15. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1920). p. 819.
  16. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  17. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  18. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  19. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 203.
  20. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 203.
  21. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 245.
  22. ↑ Taylor. The Battlecruiser Hood. p. 230.
  23. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  24. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  25. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1935). p. 270.
  26. ↑ Successor assumed command that day. Ford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 180.
  27. ↑ French Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/199. f. 205.
  28. ↑ Superseded that day. Binney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/9. f. 412.

Retrieved from "http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=Wilfred_Frankland_French&oldid=324935"