Military Cross with Three Bars - Second Lieutenant Wallington

This rare Military Cross with three bars belonged to Lieutenant Francis Victor Wallington — the first of only four men ever to receive the decoration four times.

Wallington began his career in the Royal Artillery as a Gunner in 1905 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 30 May 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross for the first time in January 1917 for his actions at Beaucourt. The citation, published in the London Gazette (supplement 29921), reads:

"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed great courage and skill during wire-cutting operations in preparation for the attack. Later, he brought a trench mortar forward to an exposed position under heavy fire."

His first bar was awarded in August 1917 (Gazette issue 30234), "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed great coolness and courage under heavy shell fire on many occasions. A fire having broken out in a neighbouring battery's gun pits, he volunteered to extinguish it, which he succeeded in doing, working all the time under heavy shell fire."

Just two weeks later, he learned he was to receive a second bar (Gazette supplement 30251), "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in rushing to a dug-out in which men had been buried by shell fire and attempting to dig out the men, aided by two other officers. He himself was in a state of collapse, but insisted on helping to carry the wounded to a dressing station under shell fire."

His third bar was announced on 10 July 1918 (Gazette supplement 30901), "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty under close enemy machine-gun fire. This officer took forward two teams and succeeded in moving off two guns. One of the teams was shot down, but he succeeded in bringing in the other gun. His gallantry and devotion to duty during recent operations was most marked."

Wallington retired from the Army in 1923 and later worked in the Royal Artillery Record Office. During the Second World War, he returned to serve as a Captain and administrator with an anti-aircraft unit.