THE SECOND WORLD WAR VICTORIA CROSS GROUP AWARDED TO CORPORAL JOHN FRENCH, 2 / 9TH INFANTRY BATTALION, AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE, HAS BEEEN SOLD AT A NOBLE NUMISMATICS AUCTION..
28 July 2023


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Corporal John French,
2 / 9th Infantry Battalion, AIF

  • Victoria Cross
  • 1939-45 Star
  • Africa Star
  • Pacific Star
  • Defence Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • War Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • Australia Service Medal ( 1939-45 )


The Second World War Victoria Cross medal group awarded to Corporal John French, 2 / 9th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, has been sold at auction by Noble Numismatics of Sydney.

The sale estimate was AUS$1,650.00 ( £853,000 ) The sale hammer price realised AUS$1,460.00 ( £755,000 ). The identity of the purchaser has not been revealed.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 14 January 1943 ], Milne Bay, New Guinea, 4 September 1942, Corporal John Alexander French, 2 / 9th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force

At Milne Bay on the afternoon of the 4th September 1942, a company of an Australian Infantry Battalion attacked the Japanese position East of the Buna Mission where it encountered terrific rifle and machine-gun fire.

The advance of the section of which Corporal French was in command was held up by the fire from three enemy machine-gun posts, whereupon Corporal French, ordering his section to take cover, advanced and silenced one of the posts with grenades

He returned to his section for more grenades and again advanced and silenced the second post.

Armed with a Thompson sub-machine gun, he then attacked the third post, firing from the hip as he went forward. He was seen to be badly hit by the fire from this post, but he continued to advance. The enemy gun then ceased to fire and his section pushed on to find that all members of the three enemy gun crews had been killed and that Corporal French had died in front of the third gun pit.

By his cool courage and disregard of his own personal safety, this non-commissioned officer saved the members of his section from heavy casualties and was responsible for the successful conclusion of the attack.

John French's family were invested with his Victoria Cross by the Governor General of Australia, Lord Gowrie VC.

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Iain Stewart, 28 July 2023