John Denton Pinkstone French Biography

Birth of John Denton Pinkstone French

Birth of John French, later Earl of Ypres.

French serves before later receiving the Ypres title.

Serves in Wolseley's failed attempt to relieve Gordon

Appointed Major General

Fights at the Battle of Elandslaagte

Helps defeat Boer forces at Elandslaagte.

French wins cavalry reputation before becoming Earl of Ypres.

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

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

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

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

Leads the cavalry relief of Kimberley.

French leads the cavalry relief before his Ypres title.

Takes part in operations leading to the relief of Kimberley.

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

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

British troops enter Pretoria during Roberts's advance.

French commands at Aldershot before the Ypres battles.

Appointed Commander of Aldershot

Appointed General

Appointed Inspector General

Continues inspecting British Army training and readiness.

Influences preparations for a future continental expeditionary force.

French is Inspector General before the Ypres campaign.

French becomes CIGS before commanding near Ypres.

Appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff

Appointed Field Marshal

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

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

Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force

Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force

Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force

Appointed Commander of the British Expeditionary Force

French commands the BEF before the First Battle of Ypres.

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

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

Driven back from Le Cateau

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

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

French shifts the BEF northward as both sides attempt to outflank each other toward Flanders.

French directs the BEF during the First Battle of Ypres.

French directs BEF operations as German attacks intensify around Ypres during the First Battle of Flanders.

French's BEF survives a major crisis around Gheluvelt as reserves restore the line east of Ypres.

French's army holds Ypres as the mobile campaign in Flanders settles into trench warfare.

The high number of casualties leadss to French's dismissal

Appointed Commander of the Home Forces

Appointed Commander of the Home Forces

The War Council meeting agrees French's plan for an offensive in Flanders

French sends reinforcements toward Ypres after German gas attacks rupture sections of the Allied line.

Replaced as Commander-in-Chief by General Haig

French is replaced after failures following Ypres and Loos.

Appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

French is created Earl of Ypres after the war.

Death of John Denton Pinkstone French

Death of John French, Earl of Ypres.