“Understanding yesterday, for the benefit of today and tomorrow”
Kibworth
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Maurice French c1905
Maurice French was born in Kibworth Harcourt on 20th April 1890, the son of William French and Elizabeth (nee Bromley).
He joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Chatham on 21st May 1907, and trained as a machine gunner and Lewis gunner. He served aboard a large number of ships; HMS Dwarf, HMS Implacable, HMS Black Prince, HMS London, HMS King Edward VII, HMS Dominion, HMS Britannia, HMS Dreadnought. He was promoted to Corporal on 2nd June 1917, and served aboard HMS Lord Nelson, HMS Empress of India, and HMS Crescent.
Whilst serving aboard HMS King Edward VII (3rd January 1914 to 16th January 1916), the ship was hit by a mine laid down by the German Cruiser SMS Mowe, at Cape Wrath.
