Godfrey Alexander French, RN
| Born | 1 Jul 1900 | Millbrook, England, U.K. | |
| Died | 10 Apr 1988 | (87) | Beaminster, England, U.K. |
| Ranks
Retired: 8 Jul 1949 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Godfrey Alexander French, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Hawkins (D 86) | Capt. | Heavy cruiser | 16 Apr 1942 | 12 Jan 1943 |
| HMS Hawkins (D 86) | Capt. | Heavy cruiser | 19 Feb 1943 | 4 Jul 1943 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (D 86)
2 May 1942
Nearing the completion of her refit HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) is undocked. After basin trials and an inclination test she was docked again later the same day.
[We have been unable to find out the date she was initially docked, possibly in March 1942 as there is no log available for this month.] (1)
9 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) is undocked. (1)
16 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted D/G and D/F calibration trials off Portsmouth. (1)
19 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted compass swing trials off Portsmouth. (1)
23 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted AA gunnery exercises off Portsmouth. (1)
26 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) proceeded from Portsmouth to Plymouth. She was escorted, part of the way, by HMS Atherstone (Lt. E.N. Wood, DSC, RNVR). (1)
27 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030B/27, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Plymouth for Scapa Flow where she is to undergo a work-up programme. (1)
29 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0815B/29, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Plymouth. (1)
3 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)
5 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)
9 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)
10 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow and later gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)
12 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)
15 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. She also made a run on the measured mile to calibrate the log. (2)
16 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)
17 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)
18 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At Scapa Flow, Vice-Admiral S.S. Bonham-Carter, CB, CVO, DSO, RN, temporarily transferred his flag from HMS Manchester (Capt. H. Drew, DSC, RN) to HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN). The flag was transferred back to HMS Manchester upon her return to Scapa Flow the following day. (3)
20 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted an underway refuelling exercises at Scapa Flow during which she fuelled HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN). (2)
22 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)
24 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)
28 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1250B/28, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock. (2)
29 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1205B/29, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Greenock from Scapa Flow. (2)
30 Jun 1942
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) proceeded from Greenock to Dalmuir where she was then taken in hand for some repairs. (2)
15 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With the repairs completed, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN), proceeded from Dalmuir to Greenock. (4)
16 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0815B/16, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Greenock for Scapa Flow. (4)
17 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000B/17, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Greenock. (4)
20 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. She later left Scapa Flow for exercises in the Pentland Firth. (4)
27 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1835B/27, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Greenock from Scapa Flow. (4)
23 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted 4" HA gunnery exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. (5)
2 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy CM 32A
This convoy departed Kilindini / Mombasa on 2 October 1942.
The convoy was made up of the (troop) transports; Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937) and Takliwa (British, 7936 GRT, built 1924).
On departure from Kilindini / Mombasa , around 0730C/2, the convoy was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) and the corvette HMS Fritillary (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Barker, RD, RNR).
HMS Fritillary parted company with the convoy around 1100C/2.
Around the armed merchant cruiser HMS Chitral (A/Capt.(Retd.) G.W. Hoare-Smith, RN) joined and took over from HMS Hawkins which then set course to return to Kilindini / Mombasa. [File ADM 199/1389 gives that the escort was taken over by HMS Alaunia but this is incorrect.]
The convoy arrived at Aden around 0830C on 8 October 1942.
5 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930C/5, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) returned to Kilindini / Mombasa from convoy escort duty. (6)
17 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Late in the morning, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Bombay with the ' Bombay section ' of convoy WS 22. (7)
20 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1730FG/20, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Bombay for Colombo. (7)
23 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900FG/23, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay. (7)
28 Oct 1942
The heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) and minesweeper HMAS Lismore (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Crawford, RANR(S)) departed Colombo for Addu Atoll. They were escorting the (troop) transport Kutsang (5847 GRT, built 1922). (8)
31 Oct 1942
The heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN), minesweeper HMAS Lismore (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Crawford, RANR(S)) and the (troop) transport Kutsang (5847 GRT, built 1922) arrived at Addu Atoll from Colombo. (9)
2 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700F/2, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Addu Atoll for the Seychelles. She is escorting the (troop) transport Kutsang (5847 GRT, built 1922). (10)
6 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630E/6, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) and the (troop) transport Kutsang (5847 GRT, built 1922) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles from Addu Atoll. (10)
7 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0620D/7, after having completed fuelling from the RFA tanker Cedardale (8132 GRT, built 1939), HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Port Victoria for Mauritius. (10)
9 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900D/9, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Mauritius from Port Victoria.
After having fuelled from the RFA tanker Olcades (6891 GRT, built 1918) she departed again around 1330D/9 to make rendezvous with and join convoy WS 23.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 23 ' for 5 October 1942.] (10)
18 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700C/18, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) and the troop transport Empress of Russia (British, 16810 GRT, built 1913) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa after they had parted company with convoy WS 23. (10)
27 Nov 1942
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. (11)
1 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1800C/1, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez from Kilindini / Mombasa. (12)
2 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1550C/2, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Diego Suarez for Durban. (12)
6 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000C/6, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Durban from Diego Suarez. At Durban she was taken in hand for a short refit including a docking. (12)
13 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) is docked in the Prince Edward graving dock at Durban. (12)
22 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) is undocked. (12)
23 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100C/23, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini / Mombasa. (12)
27 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500C/27, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Durban. (12)
12 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Capt. G.A. French, RN, was discharged to hospital, Cdr. M. Everard, RN then temporarily took command of HMS Hawkins. (13)
19 Feb 1943
Capt. G.A. French, RN, resumed command of HMS Hawkins on his release from hospital.
HMS Hawkins had arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from convoy escort duty around 1030C/19. (14)
25 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) and HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) conducted exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. On completion of these exercises HMS Hawkins proceeded to Manza Bay. (14)
2 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) returned to Kilindini / Mombasa from Manza Bay. (15)
4 Mar 1943
Around 1630C/4, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Diego Suarez via the Agalega Islands. (15)
7 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the morning, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived off the Agalega Islands where she embarked an officer and his baggage. HMS Hawkins then set course for Diego Suarez. (15)
8 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000C/8, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez. After fuelling she departed around 1630C/8 to join convoy WS 26 and then escort the Bombay section of this convoy to Bombay.
[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Combined convoy WS 26 / KMF 8 ' for 24 January 1943.] (15)
17 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the morning, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Bombay with convoy WS 26B. (15)
20 Mar 1943
Around 0930FG/20, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Bombay for Kilindini / Mombasa. (15)
25 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000C/25, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Bombay. (15)
17 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530C/17, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN), departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Aden. (16)
21 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0915C/21, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN), arrived at Aden from Kilindini / Mombasa. (16)
21 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Convoy AB 7.
This convoy departed Aden on 21 April 1943.
It was made up of the troop transports; Capetown Castle (British, 27002 GRT, built 1938), Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939), Strathaird (British, 22281 GRT, built 1932) and Strathmore (British, 23428 GRT, built 1935).
The convoy was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN).
The convoy arrived at Bombay on 26 April 1943.
14 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300C/14, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from convoy escort duty. (17)
31 May 1943
Around 0645C/31, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Simonstown via Durban. On departure gunnery exercises were carried out. (17)
4 Jun 1943
Around 0645B/4, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (18)
5 Jun 1943
Around 1700B/5, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) departed Durban for Simonstown. (18)
9 Jun 1943
Around 1200B/9, HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) arrived at Simonstown from Durban. After de-ammunitioning she was taken in hand for refit on the 12th. Refit was expected to be completed by August 14th. (19)
28 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) is docked in the Selborne graving dock at the Simonstown Dockyard. (18)
2 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Hawkins (Capt. G.A. French, RN) is undocked. (20)
Sources
- ADM 53/116039
- ADM 53/116040
- ADM 199/427
- ADM 53/116041
- ADM 53/116043
- ADM 53/116044
- ADM 53/116767
- ADM 53/116767 + ADM 199/1389
- ADM 53/116044 + ADM 199/1389
- ADM 53/116045 + ADM 199/1389
- ADM 53/116045
- ADM 53/116046
- ADM 53/117617
- ADM 53/117618
- ADM 53/117619
- ADM 53/117620
- ADM 53/117621
- ADM 53/117622
- ADM 53/117622 + ADM 199/2556
- ADM 53/117623
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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