The Military Cross was instituted as a Decoration on December 28th, 1914, to reward Distinguished Services rendered by Officers of certain ranks in the army in time of war. Bars may be added for additional acts of gallantry. Since August 1st, 1918, it has, like the D.S.O., been awarded for "services in action" only. The Decoration consists of a Cross of Silver, having on each arm the Imperial Crown and bearing in the centre the Royal and Imperial Cypher. The ribbon is white with a purple stripe. Bars are indicated (in undress uniform) by small silver rosettes on the ribbon.
FAGAN, 2/Lt. Herbert Archer ... ... ... ... ... 5/Yorks
1. W. of WANCOURT, 23rd April, 1917. He took a party and, working down a trench,
cleared the enemy machine guns which were holding up the attack. The same night, under
heavy barrage, he went dc*vn to headquarters and reported on the situation.
BAR TO M.C.
2. Near FONTAINE-LES-CROISILLES, 26th June, 1917. When in command of supports he
crawled 300 yards on two occasions across the open at great personal risk to gain touch with
the attacking company, which was completely isolated. He brought back information of the
greatest value to battalion headquarters by this energetic and gallant action.
FAIRBAIRN, Capt. George Henry ... ... ... ... 9/Rifle Brigade
FLAVY-LE-MARTEL, 23rd March, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.
When his commanding officer had become a casualty he took charge of the battalion, and
proved hinjself a capable leader under the most trying circumstances. He held on to positions
to the last moment, retiring last himself and rallying the remains of his battalion.
FAIRBAIRN, 2/Lt. William Frank ... ... ... ... 5/York & Lancaster
Near PASSCHENDAELE, 9th October, 1917. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty when in command of his company, after all the other officers had been killed or wounded.
He made a defensive flank to join up with troops on our left, and showed great powers of
command under trying circumstances.
FAIRBAIRNS, Lieut. Reginald Holland ... ... ... R.A.S.C. (M.G.C.)
GUEUDECOURT, 25th September, 1916. Although wounded he led the first wave of the
attack with great courage and determination. Later, when again wounded, he tried to
continue, but his wounds prevented him.
FAIRTLOUGH, Capt. Gerard Howard ... ... ... ... R.E.
DEMUIN, 30th March, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During
recent operations, when the enemy pressed back the troops on the right, he collected a party
of runners, orderlies and stragglers under heavy machine-gun fire and checked the enemy
advance.
FALK, Capt. Cecil Joseph ... ... ... ... ... ... 3/Wilts
E. of NOYELLES, 4th November, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and initiative during
an attack. The officers commanding the two leading companies early became casualties,
and the companies became somewhat disorganised. He immediately moved forward his
support company, reorganised the line, and reached and consolidated the final objective,
commanding all three companies until relieved by the arrival of the C.O. He has done
consistent good work.
FARRIMOND, 2/Lt. William ... ... ... ... ... 15/Royal Warwick
W. of MERVILLE, 19/20 July, 1918. He brilliantly executed a raid on the enemy's
trenches, his party killing every one of the enemy they met, and he himself accounting for
some. He showed great determination and skill, and his daring inspired his party with the
utmost confidence.
FEARN, Capt. Cecil Augustus ... ... ... ... 4/K.O.Y.L.I.
Near AVESNES-LE-SEC, 13th October, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. He displayed the greatest courage in consolidating, under heavy fire, a position just
gained, and, when one of his posts was attacked and casualties occurred, he collected men
from a neighbouring post, and re-established the position. His cheerful courage and energy
inspired all ranks with confidence.
FERGUSON, 2/Lt. David Gordon ... ... ... ... ... 1/East Kent
Awarded 1st January, 1916.
FERGUSON, 2/Lt. James Scott ... ... ... 5/Seaforth Highlanders
Near LE HAMEL, l0th April, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during
a hostile attack, when, in spite of their flank being exposed, his company maintained the
position. Again, when he was the only officer left in the company, he managed to protect the
left flank of the battalion when the troops on the left had retired, and so saved a critical
situation.
FIGG, Capt. Sydney Vavasseur ... ... ... ... 1/Royal Warwick
Awarded 3rd June, 1918.
FISHER, 2/Lt. Charles Heath ... ... ... ... 12/East Surrey
Near WYTSCHAETE, 3/4 September, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry on reconnaissance.
In spite of the fact that his runner was wounded, he returned himself and gave a valuable
report as to the position of one of our posts in front of the line. He afterwards conducted
three men with rations and water back to this post, in spite of the country through which
they had to pass being under continuous machine-gun and snipers' fire.
FISHER, 2/Lt. Henry Cecil ... ... ... ... 16/Middlesex
Awarded 1st January, 1918.
FISHER, 2/Lt. William Eric ... ... ... ... ... R.A.S.C.
Awarded 1st January, 1917.
FLEMING, 2/Lt. Herbert Sidney ... ... ... 5/Northumbei land Fusiliers
Near LAVENTIE, 1918. This officer, who was commanding a platoon, had orders to
advance. An hour after receiving the orders he led his platoon forward, and, although he
had never seen the country before him during daylight, kept direction accurately, quickly
taking each objective as he came to it. Although met by hostile machine-gun fire, he pushed
on through two hostile strong points, capturing a machine gun and the gunners, and
establishing himself well in advance of his final objective. By his coolness under fire not
only did he set a good example to his platoon but inflicted many losses on the enemy, whom
he encountered in greatly superior numbers.
FLINT, Capt. Hugh ... ... ... ... 1/Hampshire
Awarded 1st January, 1918.
FOORD, 2/Lt. Basil Arthur ... ... ... ... ... 7/ London
Near ARRAS, 28/29 May, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in
charge of the right attacking platoon in a raid on the hostile lines. He displayed a fine
fighting spirit and powers of leadership, personally accounting for many of the enemy.
When the time for withdrawal came, he remained behind to assure himself that all his
casualties were brought back, assisting to carry some of them himself. He was the only
surviving officer, and his gallant behaviour throughout was a fine example to all ranks.
FORBES, Lieut. George Freeman Murray ... ... ... ... 1/Gloucester
N. of GRICOURT, 29th September, 1918, when a frontal attack was held up, this officer
on his own initiative worked round on a flank and entered the enemy's trenches. By this
action he was enabled to organise a bombing attack party which worked up to the trench
and took the enemy by surprise and caused him to retire. This enabled the frontal attack
to gain their objective. He showed the greatest gallantry, initiative and resourcefulness.
FOULKES, 2/Lt. Edward ... ... ... South Lancashire
PLOEGSTEERT, 11th April, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during
an enemy attack. This officer displayed exceptional coolness and good leadership under
very difficult circumstances. He rallied and reorganised men with marked success, and
when compelled to withdraw did so by successive rushes, under covering fire, checking the
enemy advances.
FRANKLIN, Lieut. Leslie ... ... ... ... ... 9/ Yorkshire L.I.
PROSPECT HILL, near LE CATELET, 3rd October, 1918. For gallantry and ability in
commanding his company during the attack. His skill and initiative were most marked.
Again, on the night 7/8 October, when his company took part in the attack on VILLERS FERME,
near VILLERS OUTREAUX, he displayed the same gallantry and coolness and captured his
objective under very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire.
FRASER, 2/Lt. Alan Gumming ... ... ... ... ... 7/London
MALARD WOOD, 8th August, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership.
When the advance on his flank was held up by heavy machine-gun fire he worked his Lewis
gun forward with great courage and disregard of danger, and silenced the machine guns.
Our advance was then pushed on. Throughout the operations his fine example inspired
confidence in all ranks.
FRASER, 2/Lt. Alexander ... ... ... ... ... 6/Royal Highlanders
LONGAVESNES, 2ist to 30th March, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. As battalion signalling officer he kept up communications under most difficult circum-
stances. When practically all the officers had become casualties he organised the men of all
units around him and by his coolness and good leadership covered the withdrawal of other
troops. By his cheerfulness and utmost disregard of danger he set a magnificent example.
FRIEND, 2/Lt. Charles Percy ... ... ... ... ... 3/Wilts
Near MORCHIES, 22/23 March, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.
As company commander he kept his men under a fine state of control in the face of great
odds. He organised his line of defence with the greatest skill, and by his fine example kept
up the spirit of his company, which inflicted heavy casualties and held the enemy in check
at a critical moment.
FRIGHT, 2/Lt. Harold William ... ... ... ... 5/South Lancashire
Near TOURNAI, 8th November, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in
action. He led his platoon with great determination in the face of heavy machine-gun fire,
in endeavouring to force a passage across the ESCAUT RIVER, and was wounded in the leg by a
machine-gun bullet. His company, despite heavy casualties, hustled the enemy to the river
bank, and almost prevented the last bridge being blown up.
FRYER, 2/Lt. Thomas James Harold ... ... ... ... K.R.R.C.
PLOEGSTEERT WOOD, 12/13 July, 1916. For conspicuous gallantry during a raid on the
enemy's trenches. He dragged a wounded man from the enemy's wire to safety, and assisted
others to get under cover. He crossed "No Man's Land " three times under heavy fire while
carrying out his gallant work.
FURZE, Capt. Gordon ... ... ... ... ... Coldstream Guards
Awarded 3rd June, 1919.