264336 Pte. Clarence John Furness New Zealand Expeditionary Force C Company 20th Battalion from:Greymouth, New Zealand Clarence Furness known as Clarrie, was my mother's first cousin.
Son of George Samuel Furness and Mary Edith Williams known as Edie.
Born in 1920 at Blaketown, Greymouth, New Zealand, he died in 1991 at Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24464, 13th January 1945, p.6 reported: Private C. J. Furness, No. 14247 C Company, 20th Battalion, Middle East Forces
West Coast Prisoner of War Outstanding on Athletic Field. Private Clarence John Furness, eldest son of Mr and Mrs George Furness. Blake Street, Blaketown, Greymouth, prisoner of war at Stalag 8A, Germany. After serving in Greece, he was wounded in Crete, and subsequently taken prisoner. Last year he participated in a sports meeting held at Stalag 8A, where 20,000 prisoners of war are confined. After a few events had been decided it became apparent that the championship would be between a hut of South Africans and a hut comprising New Zealanders and Australians. “The South Africans,” to quote from a letter from F. H. Fraser-Smith, of Wellington, “got a good lead of points in the field events, but our chaps notched a few points in the sprints. Then in the distance events a sensation was caused by a young chap from the West Coast, a shy lad named Clarrie Furness. He just romped away with the mile and the three miles. Then an Aussie, named McKay, 42 years old, got us up a few points in the jumps — a very good effort in view of his age, and then we came to the final event; 1500 metres relay, two points behind the South Africans. In this race young Clarrie Furness gave us a lead of 200 yards and we won hands down.”
The New Zealand team, who were the winners, were: Parsons, D. Thompson, Private Clarence John Furness of the 20th Infantry Battalion, and A. Cook.
|