Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Second Lieutenant V. J. S. French, Irish Guards, killed in action in France in October 1918

British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. V. J. S. French) extremely fine (2) £200-300

Victor James Somerset French was born on 5 September 1898, son of Sir Somerset French, K.C.M.G., Agent-General for the Cape Colony. He was educated at Winchester College and joined the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, in 1918, as a Second Lieutenant. He joined the battalion in France on 5 October 1918. He was killed in action on 10 October, 1918, by a sniper from houses in Beauvois-en-Cambresis during an advance by the Guards. He is buried in Carnieres Communal Cemetery Extension, East of Cambrai. Sold with 14 pages copied from his correspondence file and Battalion War Diary. See Lot 491 for the medal awarded to his father, Sir Somerset French, K.C.M.G.