John Denton Pinkstone French Biography and Timeline

Birth of John Denton Pinkstone French

Birth of John Denton Pinkstone French

Birth of John French

Birth of John French, later Earl of Ypres.

Role range: 1852-1925

Nile Expedition

French serves before later receiving the Ypres title.

Role range: 1884-1885 – 1884-1885

Siege of Khartoum

Serves in Wolseley's failed attempt to relieve Gordon

Battle of Elandslaagte

Fights at the Battle of Elandslaagte

Role range: 1899-1902

Battle of Elandslaagte

Helps defeat Boer forces at Elandslaagte.

Role range: 1899-1902 – 1899-1902

Battle of Elandslaagte

French wins cavalry reputation before becoming Earl of Ypres.

Role range: 1899-1902 – 1899-1902

Siege of Ladysmith

Takes part in operations around the siege and relief of Ladysmith.

Role range: 1899-1902

Evacuation from Ladysmith

French leaves Ladysmith by rail shortly before the Boer siege completely isolates the town.

Role range: 1899-1902

Major General

Appointed Major General

Role range: 1899-1902

Colesberg Operations

French presses Boer positions around Colesberg with mobile cavalry tactics intended to threaten their flanks.

Role range: 1899-1902

Crossing at Klip Drift

French forces a crossing at Klip Drift during the sweeping cavalry advance toward Kimberley.

Role range: 1899-1902

Relief of Kimberley

Leads the cavalry relief of Kimberley.

Role range: 1899-1902 – 1899-1902

Relief of Kimberley

French leads the cavalry relief before his Ypres title.

Role range: 1899-1902 – 1899-1902

Siege of Kimberley

Takes part in operations leading to the relief of Kimberley.

Role range: 1899-1902

Capture of Orange Free State

British forces occupy the Orange Free State and rename it the Orange River Colony.

Role range: 1899-1902

Siege of Bloemfontein

British forces occupy the Orange Free State and rename it the Orange River Colony.

Role range: 1899-1902

Siege of Pretoria

British troops enter Pretoria during Roberts's advance.

Role range: 1899-1902

Commander of Aldershot

Appointed Commander of Aldershot

Aldershot Command

French commands at Aldershot before the Ypres battles.

Role range: 1902-1907

General

Appointed General

Inspector General

Appointed Inspector General

Inspector General

French is Inspector General before the Ypres campaign.

Role range: 1907-1912

Army Inspection

Continues inspecting British Army training and readiness.

Role range: 1907-1912

British Expeditionary Force Preparation

Influences preparations for a future continental expeditionary force.

Role range: 1907-1912

Chief of Imperial General Staff (CIGS)

Appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff

Chief of Imperial General Staff

French becomes CIGS before commanding near Ypres.

Role range: 1912-1914

Field Marshal

Appointed Field Marshal

Chief of Imperial General Staff (CIGS)

Resigns as Chief of the Imperial General Staff after the Curragh Mutiny

Curragh Mutiny

Resigns as Chief of the Imperial General Staff after the Curragh Mutiny

British Expeditionary Force

French commands the BEF before the First Battle of Ypres.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1915

Battle of Mons

French deploys the BEF near Mons before retreating toward the Marne.

Role range: 1914-1918

First Army

The German First Army sufferss heavy losses but force the British back to the River Marne

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Mons

Driven back from Le Cateau

Role range: 1914-1918

British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force

Commander of British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force

British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force

Role range: 1914-1918

Commander of British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Marne, 1st

Joins in the battle linking the BEF with the French 5th and 6th Armies

Role range: 1914-1918

British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

Joins in the battle linking the BEF with the French 5th and 6th Armies

Role range: 1914-1918