Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Stoker Petty Officer G. French, Royal Navy, awarded the Russian St. George Cross for Bravery

1914-15 Star (307175 S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (307175 S.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (307175 George French, Act. Ch. Sto., H.M.S. Blake); Russia, Cross of St. George for Bravery, 4th Class, silver, rev. numbered, ‘1/M 091 184’, mounted as worn, very fine (5) £300-400

George French was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire on 4 September 1882. A Bricklayer’s Labourer by occupation, he entered into the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in August 1904. He gained the rank of Stoker Petty Officer whilst on the Cochrane in July 1909. With the onset of war he was based on the destroyer depot ship Woolwich, serving on the destroyers Jackal, July 1914-April 1916 and Onslow, April 1916-October 1917. On the latter ship, when based at Rosyth, he served with the Battlecruiser Squadrons at the battle of Jutland. He received an official commendation for his service in the battle and in July 1917 was one of the men recommended for the Russian St. George Cross. During November 1917-March 1918 he continued to serve on the Onslow and was based at Apollo. Ranked as Acting Chief Stoker whilst on the Glasgow in December 1918; he received his Long Service Medal whilst on the depot ship Blake, June-September 1919. He was pensioned ashore on 8 August 1926 and joined the R.F.R. Sold with copied service papers and other research.