Medal & Mortality index
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.
London Gazette 4th of June 1917 :
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst commanding his company in
an attack. He attacked an enemy strong point with a handful of men, and captured
it, knocking out a machine gun and killing a number of the enemy. Throughout the
operation he displayed great gallantry and a total disregard of all danger”.
BATTLE OF YPRES, JULY 31ST, 1917
By this time the third battle of Ypres had been launched and had shown those
features that, in the end, robbed it of the strategic significance expected when
it was planned. On July 31st two Royal Fusilier battalions took an active part
in the opening attack. They were engaged on a sector that from the beginning
meant hard fighting and little success. The 26th Royal Fusiliers attacked at
Battle Wood, but little progress was made. An hour before zero, which was at
3.50 a.m., a heavy rain began to fall and the ground was a mass of water-logged
shell-holes. The men could hardly keep their foothold, and it is surprising that
the battalion lost no more than 160 killed, wounded and missing.
On the right of the 41st Division, of which the 26th Battalion formed part, was
the 24th Division, containing the 1st and 12th Battalions. The 1st attacked at
zero with the 12th Battalion 200 yards in the rear. The leading companies as
usual clung closely to the barrage. A number of casualties were sustained as the
men crossed the valley in which lies the sunken road towards the eastern end of
Shrewsbury Wood, but the Germans did not attempt to stand until the strong point
south of Jeffrey Avenue was reached. This trench runs from the north-eastern
face of Clonmel Copse to the northern edge of Shrewsbury Wood. At this point the
battalion were held up until Lieutenant Flack's party rushed it. Flack knocked
out the machine gun with a rifle grenade, and was subsequently awarded a bar to
the M.C. for this service. This part of the line was then consolidated. C
Company, under Captain Leeming, reached the trench on the south-western face of
Bodmin Copse, and here he was killed. The German snipers were very active, and C
Company was deprived of an efficient leader. This company on the left of the
advance alone maintained its direction. A very sustained fire had been kept up
from Lower Star Post, in the heart of Shrewsbury Wood, and it was owing to this,
apparently, that the battalion on the 1st Royal Fusiliers' right swerved,
causing the Fusiliers' right company also to swerve.
Flack, Wilfred George, M.C., Lt., died of wounds, 7/9/17.