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Reginald French
Ordinary Hero story submitted by Ann French
The first impression I had of my father-in-law, Reginald French (Reg) was that he was a small man - barely 5 foot 3 inches tall, which made what he did all the more amazing.
The first impression I had of my father-in-law, Reginald French (Reg) was that he was a small man - barely 5 foot 3 inches tall, which made what he did all the more amazing.
He was intelligent, loved music and books and made me laugh a lot. However it wasn't until he died that I came to understand he was also courageous and brave to the extent he was awarded the DCM medal by the king.
He was a tank commander in the dessert and fought against Rommel's army of German Panzers. The battle did not go well and the British troops, although defending bravely, were left in tatters. Unfortunately my father-in-law's tank took a direct hit, destroying it, killing two of his men and seriously injuring two others. One of these later died but by then Reg had come across another knocked-out tank with two men, also wounded, lying beside it.
He dressed the wounds of the injured men and then because they were incapable of walking, carried them for 16 miles across the dessert, through enemy lines, until picked up by British troops near Bir Gubi. He would carry one 100 yards, put him down and go back for the other and did this for two days and nights without food or water.
At times, because Germans were everywhere, it looked as though capture was imminent, but because of 'a complete disregard for his (Reg's) own safety whilst attending the wounded under fire and leadership of the highest standard', they found safety and lived to fight again.
He never mentioned or talked about what he did and there is no doubt that without his indomitable courage and fortitude none of the men would have survived.
He was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal by King George VI at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace.
Addendum: The medals, along with a copy of the presentation hang in pride of place in our home - a tribute to an honourable and brave man.
Reginald John French
8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars
Distinguished Conduct Medal
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