Christopher Furness (VC)

Christopher Furness VC

Christopher Furness was born in London on 17 May 1912, the eldest son of Marmaduke Furness, later 1st Viscount Furness, and Ada “Daisy” Furness. Educated at Eton College, he joined the family’s shipping business before serving as an officer in the Welsh Guards. During the Battle of France, Lieutenant Furness commanded the Carrier Platoon of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. (CWGC)

From 17 to 24 May 1940, the battalion formed part of the British garrison defending Arras. Furness distinguished himself through his aggressive leadership during constant patrols and local actions. On 22 May, he was wounded but refused to be evacuated, remaining with his men as German forces closed around the town. (CWGC)

The following day, his platoon, supported by a small force of light tanks, was ordered to cover the withdrawal of more than forty transport vehicles toward Douai. Early on 24 May, heavy German small-arms and anti-tank fire blocked the road along which the column was attempting to escape. Recognizing that the entire transport column was in danger of being captured or destroyed, Furness immediately led three carriers and the remaining light tanks in a close-range attack against the strongly entrenched enemy position. (CWGC)

The attack was met by devastating fire. The light tanks were knocked out, Furness’s carriers were disabled, and most of their crews were killed or wounded. When his own carrier was hit and both his driver and gunner were killed, Furness continued the attack despite his wounds. He closed with the enemy and fought them in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. (CWGC)

His extraordinary act of self-sacrifice forced the German troops to withdraw temporarily. The delay enabled the transport column to escape and allowed surviving members of his platoon and the light-tank crews, including some of the wounded, to be evacuated. For his courage, leadership and deliberate sacrifice against overwhelming odds, Lieutenant Christopher Furness was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. The award was announced in the London Gazette on 5 February 1946 and published on 7 February 1946. (CWGC)

Christopher Furness was 28 years old when he was killed. His body was never recovered, and he is commemorated on Column 34 of the Dunkirk Memorial in France. His Victoria Cross remains the property of the Furness family and is held on loan by the Welsh Guards Regimental Headquarters at Wellington Barracks, London. (CWGC)