Henry French, son of Henry French and Ellen Riordan/Reardon was born on 18.2.1859 at Black Creek, Talunga, South Australia.

He spent his early life in South Australia, but left Lobethal, SA with his mother Ellen, sister Mary Ellen and brother Michael around 1869.

He stayed briefly in Willoughby in Sydney, then moved to the Taree District of the NSW coast, where he married Fanny Tinonee Poole on 6.7.1881 at the home of Thomas Searle, Manning River, Tinonee, NSW

Fanny was the daughter of Morgan Isaac Gardner John Poole and Ann (formerly Fletcher).

They had a family of 4 children:

Henry French Jnr. married Clara Adelaide Woodward. They had a family of 12 children from 1905 to 1925. Sadly 3rd child Henry (Mick) French took his own life (gunshot wound) in 1928 aged 20 years, and the 5th child Cecil Joseph French died in 1960 aged 47 years, of a fractured skull, wilfully inflicted at Bulahdelah.

Isaac Morgan French married Bertha Lucy McClymont. They had a family of 13 children from 1906 to 1926. The 7th child Maurice William French died in 1920 aged 4 years 9 months from diphtheria. The 13th child Alison French was stillborn. Her name appears on the grave of her sister Dulcie Bertha Robson nee French at Coolongolook Cemetery.

Esther/Esthler Jane French married Henry Allan Corderoy. They had a family of 3 children from 1921 to 1926, Janet Ester Corderoy, Henry Morgan Corderoy and Iris Valerie Corderoy.

Edward John French born 16.10.1887 did not marry. He lived in the Taree/Coolongolook district. He took ill and went to Sydney where he died in Sydney Hospital on 18.4.1914 aged 27 from pulmonary tuberculosis and asthenia. He was buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Lidcombe, NSW. There is no headstone.

Sadly, Fanny Tinonee French died on 8.12.1889 aged 29 from a uterine haemorrhage at Coolongolook, NSW. She was buried at Coolongolook Cemetery.

The book published in 2008 is A4 sized and wire spiral bound. It consists of 210 pages, including 149 photographs (sepia, black & white and colour), certificates, telegrams, post cards, maps, World War II Service Records, personal letters, newspaper articles, Return Thanks card and Australian Imperial Force Card.

Cost $110.00 (includes postage throughout Australia)
Available from author, postal order, or cheque, and details to:
Mrs. Catherine Williams, PO Box 4, CAIRNS, QLD. 4870
Enquiries: Email the author