Christopher. The Hon Furness
Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
- Register No.
- 434 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards all Welsh Guards VCs →
- Date of action
- 17–24 May 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 7th February, 1946 on this day → all of 1946 →
- Born
- 17th May 1912 in London
- Died
- 24th May 1940 near Arras, France. (killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- on The Dunkirk Memorial, France and in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks
- Medal held by
- the Guards Regimental HQ
Digest of citation
During the period 17th/24th May 1940 near Arras, France, Lieutenant Furness commanded the Carrier Platoon when his battalion formed part of the garrison of the town. On 23rd May the platoon was ordered to cover the withdrawal of the transport (more than 40 vehicles) to Douai. Early on 24th May the enemy were advancing along the road where the transport columns were moving and Lieutenant Furness decided to attack. He reached the enemy position under heavy fire and when the light tanks and all the carriers and their crews had become casualties he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. His fight against hopeless odds made the enemy withdraw temporarily and enabled the vehicles to get clear
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
FURNESS, Christopher. The Hon. (reg No. 434).
Lieutenant. 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards.
London Gazetted on 7th February, 1946.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Guards Regimental HQ Born on 17th May 1912 in London.
Died on 24th May 1940 near Arras, France. (killed in action).
Memorial on The Dunkirk Memorial, France and in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks.
Digest of Citation reads: During the period 17th/24th May 1940 near Arras, France, Lieutenant Furness commanded the Carrier Platoon when his battalion formed part of the garrison of the town. On 23rd May the platoon was ordered to cover the withdrawal of the transport (more than 40 vehicles) to Douai. Early on 24th May the enemy were advancing along the road where the transport columns were moving and Lieutenant Furness decided to attack. He reached the enemy position under heavy fire and when the light tanks and all the carriers and their crews had become casualties he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. His fight against hopeless odds made the enemy withdraw temporarily and enabled the vehicles to get clear.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on The Dunkirk Memorial, France and in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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