Alfred Henry Furlonger
Alfred Henry Furlonger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1886/1887 |
| Died | 30 April 1918 (aged 31)[1] Poperinge, Belgium |
Buried | Bandaghem Military Cemetery, Belgium |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Service years | 1914–1918 |
Rank | Sergeant Major |
| Unit | 29th Light Railway Operating Companies of the Royal Engineers |
| Awards | |
Sergeant Major Alfred Henry Furlonger (1886/1887 – 30 April 1918) was a British soldier who served on the Western Front in World War I. He died while responding to a fire at a railway near Poperinge, Belgium, for which he was posthumously awarded the Albert Medal for Lifesaving.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Early life
Furlonger was born in Wimbledon, London to parents Alfred Henry Furlonger and Mary Jane Steel.[8][9][10] He was named after his father, who worked as a water fitter.[9] His birth was registered at Kingston, Surrey, between October and November of 1886 or 1887.[11] He was baptised at the Church of The Holy Trinity and St Peter in Surrey on 30 January 1887.[8] He had one sister, Maud Frances Furlonger, who was two years younger than him.[9][10]
By the age of fourteen, he was working as a goods clerk.[9][1]
He, at some point, took a trip to Chile and arrived back in England on 19 July 1914, at a port in Liverpool.[12]
His Freemason membership was initiated on 16 Sep 1914.[6][7]
Military service and death
Furlonger joined the 29th Light Railway Operating Companies of the Royal Engineers Corps following the outbreak of World War I.[4][5][13] He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for defending an evacuation train during the Third Battle of Ypres.[1]
He conducted the trains as men were evacuating the wounded on 6 February 1918. There was a barrage of shells which stopped them from getting to the Regimental Aid Posts (RAPs). Furlonger organised a small party to mend the line and helped transfer the wounded onto another truck when it was immobilised[14][1]
He eventually rose in rank from sergeant to an acting company Sergeant Major.[5][15]
On 30 April 1918, Furlonger was working on a railway near Poperinge in Belgium. A train had been placed at the refilling point, and the engine was set to be detached. However, a fire broke out on one of the ammunition trucks. Furlonger ordered the men to tow the burning truck away from the rest of the train. Once far enough away, he and a small group attempted to uncouple the engine. The truck exploded, resulting in the death of him and four of his men.[1]
Honours
Furlonger and his men were awarded the Albert Medal For Lifesaving.[6] In May 1918, he was buried in the Bandaghem Military Cemetery in Belgium with full military honours.[3] His mother was sent a letter by his captain, J.H. Spalding, in which Furlonger was noted for his courageousness and good conduct.[1] His probate was on 11th Sep 1918. He left most of his money to his mother, a total of 219 pounds and 15 shillings.[16]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Company Serjeant Major Alfred Furlonger, AM, DCM". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ Alfred Henry Furlonger in the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 Military-Genealogy.com, comp. UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008
- 1 2 A H Furlonger in the UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Author: Peter Singlehurst; Series Title: British Commonwealth War Graves Registers, 1914-1918; Archive Name: London, United Kingdom.
- 1 2 Alfred Henry Furlonger in the UK, World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 074/0339/Ful-Fus
- 1 2 3 Alfred Henry Furlonger in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929 National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 673001-674500; Reference: 400
- 1 2 3 "Company Sergeant Major Alfred Henry Furlonger". Masonic Great War Project. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- 1 2 Alfred Henry Furlonger in the England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921 Library and Museum of Freemasonry; London, England; Freemasonry Membership Registers; Description: Membership Registers: Country EE 3242-3352 to Country FF 3353-3462; Reel Number: 56
- 1 2 Alfred Henry Furlonger in the Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1921 Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Alfred Henry Furlonger in the 1911 England Census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
- 1 2 Alfred H Furlonger in the 1901 England Census Class: RG13; Piece: 658; Folio: 157; Page: 27
- ↑ Alfred Henry Furlonger in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
- ↑ Alfred Henry Furlonger in the UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 The National Archives in Washington, DC; London, England, UK; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Inwards Passenger Lists; Class: Bt26; Piece: 581; Item: 47
- ↑ A H Furlonger in the UK, British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 Army Medal Office (In the Care of the Western Front Association Website); London, England; Wwi Medal Index Cards
- ↑ A.H. Furlonger in the UK, Citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1920 Walker, R. W., and Chris Buckland, compilers. Citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914–1920. 4 sections. Uckfield, East Sussex, United Kingdom: Naval and Military Press, 2007.
- ↑ "Alfred Henry FURLONGER". London War Memorial. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ Alfred Henry Furlonger in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England