An Appreciation.
The Ypres Times.
175
appointed Commander of the Home Defence Force, which position he held until the end
of the War.
At the termination of his Viceroyalty in Ireland, the Field Marshal divided his time
between England and France. His well-known sympathies for France, and the imperish
able memories of 1914, always assured him of a respectful and cordial reception in Paris
and Central France. Not content to remain idle, he strove continually to strengthen the
ties which had united the two nations during the War, and which he himself had done
so much to create. He was especially interested in all associations formed to promote
good fellowship between the two countries, and he became President of the Friends of
France." Thus I had the opportunity of meeting him again at Franco-British re-unions.
Down to the last few months before his death his health was excellent, and age
had hardly impaired his constitution. Unfortunately he had then to undergo a serious
operation, faced with a courage which never deserted him. He was good enough to
receive me several times at the Imperial Nursing Home, and I felt that my visits gave
him pleasure. He was also pleased to see Général d'Amade, whom he had known from
the time of the South African War. Alas he succumbed a few weeks after the operation.
His death was keenly felt in France, and Marshal Joffre, who was his companion-in-arms
during the two first years of the War came over to pay him the last honour.
The name of Earl Ypres will live. History will pay a just tribute to this great British
soldier who, after having been a brilliant leader of men in the Colonial wars, waged by
his country, became the first commander-in-chief of the glorious voluntary army which
the British Empire raised, and which fought at the side of the French Army on the
Western Front in defence of liberty and the rights of the people.
By VAEENTINE WILEIAMS, M.C., Lieut., late Irish Guards.
Sir John French is dead and with him the British Expeditionary Force has passed
into history. More than any other man he was its creator, and its sterling quality, tested
and proved true in the fiery furnace of Mons, the Marne and Ypres, found in him living
its embodiment. The colours sunk before his bier in the Guards Chapel saluted in his
lifeless clay the casket of a spirit that was typically and exclusively British, that mixture
of bravery and shrewdness, of suavity and suppleness, of ruthlessness and tenderness,
which goes to make up the character of what we call a gentleman, the spirit of the
B.E.F.
The outstanding characteristic of the dead leader was his courage. On all counts
John French was the bravest man I have ever known. I am not now speaking of physical
courage alone. In that respect he possessed, in legacy from his Irish blood, that ignorance of
fear .which makes the Irishman the world's finest fighter. I met him frequently at the
front in 19x5 and I do not believe that the thought of his personal danger ever came
into his mind—it was not so unreal, either, for John Gough, Haig's Chief of Staff, was
killed by a stray bullet miles behind the front line. And in the dark days of his Irish
Viceroyalty Eord Ypres' personal fearlessness burned like a bright flame against a mist
of physical and moral cowardice in some other quarters.
4No, it is to the Field-Marshal's moral courage that I more specifically allude. His
was essentially a buoyant and sanguine nature, tempered, however, by a very shrewd
perception of realities. The realisation, at the first clash of arms at Mons, of the over
whelming character of the odds against him, notably, the devastating volume of the
German artillery fire, must. have almost extinguished in his breast the high hopes with
G
