Who was John French?

On 4 September 1942, Australian Corporal John French, 2/9th Battalion, charged and captured three enemy gun pits during tha Battle of Milne Bay, one after the other. French was killed and for his bravery was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

 

The Battle of Milne Bay was hailed at the time as the first significant defeat of a Japanese force on land in the Second World War and an important morale booster for the Allies.

Tags: Battle of Milne Bay