EDWIN GEORGE FRENCH
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG”: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Registered at birth – George Edwin French.
Image courtesy of Pat French.
Born: 27th January 1880, Ipswich.
Died: 5th June 1940; age: 61; killed when M.V. ‘Sweep’ II struck a magnetic mine.
Residence: 206, Rosehill Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: Mate – Motor Vessel.
First World War Enrolement: 24th April 1915. Height 5ft 5 1/4ins, fresh complexion, grey/brown eyes and scars on the left side under the arm. Next of Kin: wife – Mrs. French, of 206, Rosehill Road, Ipswich.
Despatched from Ipswich – 29th April 1915
Arrival – Pembroke – 29th April 1915,
ranked as a Trimmer – discharged medically unfit – 30th April 1915.
Father to ALFRED EDGAR FRENCH & JACK EDWIN FRENCH.
Rank: Mate.
Regiment: Merchant Navy, M.V. ‘Sweep’ II (Ipswich).
Memorial Reference:
Panel 105.
London.
CENSUS
1881 Denham Green, Suffolk.
George was a year old he lived with his maternal grandparents.
George Madgetts, 50, a Labourer, born Yaxley, Suffolk.
Susan Madgetts (nee Marshall), 48, born Eye, Suffolk.
1891 Burnthouse, Laxfield, Suffolk.
George was 11 years old he lived with his maternal grandparents.
George, 60, an Agricultural Labourer.
Susan, 58.
1 lodger.
1901 22, Tovells Road, Ipswich.
George was 21 years old, a General Labour. He was living with his parents, siblings & widowed, maternal grandfather.
Daniel French, 49, a Boot & Shoe Maker, born Middlesex.
Mary Ann French (nee Madgetts), 41, born Whitton, Suffolk.
Susan Mary French, 18, a day Girl – Domestic, Middlesex.
Arthur Daniel French, 16, born Middlesex.
Frederick William French, 13, born Ipswich.
Henry Charles French, 11, born Ipswich.
Emily Maria French, 9, born Ipswich.
John Albert French, 5, born Ipswich.
Stanley Herbert French, 1, born Ipswich.
1911 206, Rosehill Road, Ipswich.
George was 31 years old, a General Labourer – Agricultural Implements Shop. He was married and Head of the Household.
Maud, 27.
Arthur, 8.
James, 6.
Robert, 4.
Doris, 2.
In 1902, in Flowton, Suffolk, George married Maud Alice Aldous, born October 1883, in Flowton, Suffolk – daughter of the late James Aldous, and Harriet Aldous (nee Allington), of Flowton. In March 1883, James Aldous died at the Hospital after an accident at Messrs. Packard’s Works, of Bramford.
Maud and George had ten children:
Alfred was 5 years and 9 months old. He attended School and lived with his parents and siblings.
Arthur George French, born 1902, Ipswich.
James Stanley French, born 1904, Ipswich.
Robert Charles French, born 1906, Ipswich.
Doris Maud French, born 1909, Ipswich.
Ivy Maud French, born 1911, Ipswich.
Emily Ada French, born 1912, Ipswich.
Alfred Edgar French, born 1915, Ipswich.
Jack Edwin French, born January 1918, Ipswich.
Nellie Mabel French, born 1920, Ipswich.
Eric Roy French, born 1926, Ipswich.
ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939.
Edwin was a Mate – Motor Vessel. He was living with his wife and children at the family home – 206, Rosehill Road, Ipswich:
Maud, unpaid Domestic Duties.
Jack, an Engineer’s Packer.
Eric.
Probate to Maud Alice French – widow.
George lost two sons in the Second World War:
Jack Edwin French, died from a shrapnel injury, during an Allied air bombing on the 12th May 1944, aged 26, at POW Camp Stalag IV B. He was a Gunner, service number 953067, in the Royal Artillery, 67 Medium Regiment. Jack was buried at Prague War Cemetery, Czech Republic.
Alfred Edgar French died on the 6th March 1942, aged 26. He was a Sapper, service number 1883555, in the Royal Engineers, 1 Field Squadron. Alfred is remembered at the Alamein Memorial, Egypt.
George is also remembered at the war memorial at the Town Hall, Ipswich.
5th June 1940
M.V. ‘Sweep’ II was a British sludge vessel. On the 5th June 1940, she was en route from Ipswich to spoil grounds, when she struck a magnetic mine 1.4 miles from Landguard Port, Felixstowe, Suffolk. She sunk with the loss of 2 men.
One Comment
George was my grandfather. His third son (Robert) listed above as a 4 yr old is (or was) my father – he died Christmas Day 1992 aged 86. As a family, we have no photo of “Sweep II” – the boat George French was in when it struck that mine off Felixstowe. If anyone reading this has a photo I would dearly love to have a copy.