Cemetery: Dunkirk Memorial

Country: France

Area: Nord

Rank: Lieutenant

Force: Army

Official Number: 53422

Unit: 1st Bn. Welsh Guards.

Country of Service: British

Details: V C 24th May 1940. Age 28. Son of Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness and of the Viscountess Furness (nee Hogg) of Westminster London. Column 34. The citation in the London Gazette of 5th February 1946 gives the following details: Lt. Furness was in command of the Carrier Platoon Welsh Guards from May 17th-24th 1940 at Arras. His extremely high degree of leadership and dash imbued his command with a magnificent offensive spirit during their constant patrols and many local actions throughout this period. On May 22nd 1940 he was wounded but refused to be evacuated. The enemy had encircled the town on three sides and Lt. Furness's platoon together with a small force of light tanks were ordered to cover the withdrawal of over 40 transport vehicles to Douai. Heavy small arms and anti-tank gun fire blocked the column. Lt. Furness realising the seriousness of the situation with three carriers and the light tanks attacked at close quarters the strongly entrenched enemy in hand to hand combat until he was killed. His magnificent act of self-sacrifice against hopeless odds made the enemy withdraw long enough to allow the large transport column to get clear unmolested, and to permit the evacuation of some of the wounded of his own platoon and of the light tanks.

Photograph by David Milborrow