Francis Wallington
Francis Victor Wallington | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 October 1891 |
| Died | 15 February 1971 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1906–1923 1939 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Royal Field Artillery |
| Battles / wars | First World War |
| Awards | Military Cross & Three Bars Mentioned in Despatches |
Francis Victor Wallington MC & Three Bars (16 October 1891 – 15 February 1971) was a decorated British Army officer. He was the first of four soldiers to be awarded the Military Cross four times, all in the First World War.[1][2]
Military career
Wallington was born in Woolwich. He joined the Royal Horse Artillery in 1906. He reached the rank of bombardier while serving with the 7th Brigade, RHA.[2]
Early in the First World War, Wallington served as a soldier in the Royal Artillery, British Army, and reached the rank of serjeant.[3] On 15 August 1914, he departed for France with the British Expeditionary Force.[2] On 30 May 1916, he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a second lieutenant 'for service in the field'.[3] On 2 October 1917, he was promoted to acting captain while he served as second-in-command of a battery of the Royal Field Artillery.[4] On 30 November 1917, he was promoted to lieutenant and retained the acting rank of captain.[5] He retired on 2 May 1923 and was granted the rank of captain.[6]
Wallington married Gwendoline Constance Newton (1892–1936) in Lambeth in 1919. They lived in Abingdon, and had two sons Francis and Dennis, and a daughter Maureen.
Wallington later rejoined the British Army. On 7 March 1939, he became a captain and admin officer in the Royal Engineers.[7] With the outbreak of the Second World War, he relinquished his appointment as an admin officer on 2 September 1939.[8] He relinquished his commission in the Territorial Army on 2 September 1939.[9]
Wallington died in Richmond-upon-Thames in 1971.
Honours and decorations
For his service in the First World War, Wallington received the following campaign medals; the 1914 Star with clasp, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.[2] On 26 January 1917, he was Mentioned in Despatches.[2] He was awarded the Military Cross four times;[1] the first on 26 January 1917,[10] the second on 16 August 1917,[11] the third on 25 August 1917,[12] and the fourth on 16 September 1918.[13]
See also
- Three other British soldiers to be awarded the MC and three bars: Percy Bentley, Humphrey Arthur Gilkes, Charles Gordon Timms
References
- ^ a b "Humphrey Arthur GILKES". Christ Church, Oxford. 10 December 2012. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Addington, Scott (2006). For conspicuous gallantry: winners of the Military Cross and bar during the Great War. Leicester: Matador. ISBN 9781905237432.
- ^ a b "No. 29650". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1916. p. 6585.
- ^ "No. 30398". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 November 1917. p. 12309.
- ^ "No. 30618". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 April 1918. p. 4285.
- ^ "No. 32819". The London Gazette. 1 May 1923. p. 3146.
- ^ "No. 34620". The London Gazette. 28 April 1939. p. 2829.
- ^ "No. 34922". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 August 1940. p. 5011.
- ^ "No. 34936". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 August 1940. p. 5339.
- ^ "No. 29921". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 January 1917. pp. 1016–1020.
- ^ "No. 30234". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 August 1917. pp. 8354–8356.
- ^ "No. 30251". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 August 1917. pp. 8801–8804.
- ^ "No. 30901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1918. pp. 10853–10877.