John French, 2nd Earl of Ypres
Encyclopedia
John Richard Lowndes French, 2nd Earl of Ypres (6 July 1881- 5 April 1958) was the son of the British field marshal
and the first commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in World War I
Sir John French
.
He was born near Morpeth
in Northumberland
where his father was stationed. He followed his father by joining the army and he served with the Royal Field Artillery
but his military career was cut short following a riding accident. French was also a talented artist, something which did not endear him to his father.
He succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Ypres following his death on the 22 May 1925. During the Second World War he commanded a battalion of the Home Guard. He was succeeded by his son John.
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
and the first commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Sir John French
John French, 1st Earl of Ypres
Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC, PC , known as The Viscount French between 1916 and 1922, was a British and Anglo-Irish officer...
.
He was born near Morpeth
Morpeth, Northumberland
Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town. The town is from the A1, which bypasses it. Since 1981, it has been the administrative centre of the County of Northumberland. In the 2001 census the town had a population...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
where his father was stationed. He followed his father by joining the army and he served with the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
but his military career was cut short following a riding accident. French was also a talented artist, something which did not endear him to his father.
He succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Ypres following his death on the 22 May 1925. During the Second World War he commanded a battalion of the Home Guard. He was succeeded by his son John.