{"product_id":"east-surrey-regiment-pow-march-1918-military-medal-group-ww1-mm-for-poelcapelle-1917","title":"East Surrey Regiment POW March 1918 Military Medal Group WW1 MM for Poelcapelle 1917","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War Medal Group - Private Frederick Cornelius Charles Furze M.M., 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment (‘B’ Company)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMilitary Medal – \u003cb\u003e972 PTE F. C. C. FURZE. 8\/E.SURR:R.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1914-15 Star – \u003cb\u003e972 PTE. F. C. C. FURSE. E.SURR:R.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"tab-stops: 114.45pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBritish War Medal – \u003cb\u003e972 PTE. F. C. C. FURSE. E.SURR. R.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal – \u003cb\u003e972 PTE. F. C. C. FURSE. E.SURR. R.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFrederick Cornelius Charles Furze was born on \u003cb\u003e26 November 1897 at Leytonstone, Essex\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eWilliam Furze\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eEmma Sophia (née Moore)\u003c\/b\u003e. He was educated locally and was an \u003cb\u003e“old boy” of Alma Road School\u003c\/b\u003e, later also associated with Southbury Road School, Ponders End. Prior to military service he lived in the Leyton and Walthamstow area of London.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe enlisted into the \u003cb\u003eEast Surrey Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e and served with \u003cb\u003e‘B’ Company, 8th Battalion\u003c\/b\u003e. He \u003cb\u003eentered the theatre of war in France on 17 September 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, joining the battalion on the Western Front during the height of trench warfare.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e12 October 1917\u003c\/b\u003e, Private Furze distinguished himself during the fighting at \u003cb\u003ePoelcapelle\u003c\/b\u003e, part of the wider \u003cb\u003eThird Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)\u003c\/b\u003e. This phase of the battle was characterised by appalling weather, deep mud, devastated ground, and intense enemy artillery and machine-gun fire. British units advancing around Poelcapelle faced extreme difficulty moving men, ammunition, and wounded across the churned battlefield.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDuring these operations, Private Furze’s \u003cb\u003egallant conduct and devotion to duty under fire\u003c\/b\u003e were formally reported by both his \u003cb\u003eRegimental Commander and Brigade Commander\u003c\/b\u003e. His actions were significant enough to merit divisional-level recognition, and he was subsequently awarded the \u003cb\u003eMilitary Medal\u003c\/b\u003e for bravery in the field. Battalion War Diary entries for early November 1917 record the publication of honours and awards, confirming his inclusion among those recognised for gallantry in action.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIn addition to the Military Medal, he received a \u003cb\u003eparchment certificate\u003c\/b\u003e signed by the \u003cb\u003eGeneral Officer Commanding 18th Division\u003c\/b\u003e, an honour often reserved for men whose conduct stood out during particularly severe fighting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDuring the German \u003cb\u003eSpring Offensive (Operation Michael)\u003c\/b\u003e, which began on 21 March 1918, the 8th East Surrey Regiment was heavily engaged as German forces broke through British lines along the Somme and Oise fronts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e23 March 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, amid widespread fighting and withdrawals, Private Furze was \u003cb\u003etaken prisoner of war at La Fère\u003c\/b\u003e. Red Cross and International Committee records confirm his capture and subsequent internment. He was later held at \u003cb\u003eDanzig\u003c\/b\u003e, with his \u003cb\u003enext of kin recorded as living in Walworth, London\u003c\/b\u003e. His captivity lasted until the end of the war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePost-War Life\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFollowing repatriation, Frederick Furze returned to civilian life. He married \u003cb\u003eEva Frances Emily Abbott\u003c\/b\u003e in July 1920, and the couple had children. After her death in 1938, he later remarried \u003cb\u003eLucy Matilda Trowse\u003c\/b\u003e in October 1939. In later years he lived in Middlesex and West London and worked as a \u003cb\u003ewarehouseman\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFrederick Cornelius Charles Furze died in \u003cb\u003eApril 1976 at Thanet, Kent\u003c\/b\u003e, aged 78.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eNewspaper Cutting – Enfield Gazette – Friday, 7 December 1917\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e“I am pleased to say that Cornelius Furze, an old boy of Alma-road School, has been complimented for gallant conduct in the field. He has received a parchment certificate as follows:—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePte. C. Furze, East Surrey Regt.—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003ci\u003eI have read with great pleasure the report of your regimental commander and brigade commander regarding your gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on 12th October, 1917, at Poelcappelle.—(Signed) R. G. Lee, Major-General, Commander 18th Division.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eYours faithfully,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHENRY W. DONALD,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHon. Sec. E.C.C.R.F.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSouthbury-road School, Ponders End.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53151008129370,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251219_123449.png?v=1766184716","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/east-surrey-regiment-pow-march-1918-military-medal-group-ww1-mm-for-poelcapelle-1917","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}