Wilfred French facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Wilfred Frankland French
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 9 November 1880 |
| Died | 6 December 1958 (aged 78) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1890s – 1939 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George |
Sir Wilfred Frankland French (born 9 November 1880, died 6 December 1958) was a high-ranking officer, an Admiral, in the British Royal Navy. He was recognized for his service with important awards like the KCB and the CMG.
Contents
Sir Wilfred French joined the Royal Navy in the late 1890s. He quickly moved up the ranks. On 1 April 1902, he became a lieutenant. The next month, he was assigned to the battleship HMS Goliath. This ship was part of the China station, which was a naval base in Asia.
Important Commands and Roles
Throughout his career, Sir Wilfred French held many important positions.
- From 1927 to 1929, he was the flag captain of HMS Hood. This means he was the captain of the ship where a high-ranking admiral had their flag.
- Between 1931 and 1932, he commanded the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron. This was a group of powerful warships.
- From 1934 to 1937, he was the Vice-Admiral in charge, Malta. This role meant he was responsible for the naval base and ships in Malta.
- In 1936, he received the KCB, a special award for his service.
Role in World War II
When the Second World War began, Sir Wilfred French was the Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands (ACOS). This job involved protecting the naval base at Scapa Flow. On 14 October 1939, a German submarine, the German submarine U-47, secretly entered Scapa Flow. It sank the battleship HMS Royal Oak. Sadly, 833 lives were lost in this attack.
After the Scapa Flow Attack
An official report looked into why the defenses at Scapa Flow were weak. The report blamed Sir Wilfred French for the disaster. However, he had warned about the dangers of an attack before. He even offered to show how easy it was for a small boat or submarine to get into the base. Despite his warnings, he was forced to leave active service. He was then sent to Washington to work as an administrative representative until 1944.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Matthew Best |
Flag Officer, Malta 1934–1937 |
Succeeded by Sir Wilbraham Ford |
| Preceded by New post |
Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands July 1939–December 1939 |
Succeeded by Sir Hugh Binney |
