Tpr. "Geordie" Furness once served in the British Royal Marine Commandos. ref. "Rhodesian Roll of Honour" by P. Geldenhuys (Roll compiled by Dr. J. R. T. Wood). Amendments from "Rhodesian Combined Forces Roll of Honour 1966-1981", by Adrian Haggett and Gerry van Tonder.
MLM Awarded 23 September 1977; BCR Awarded 9 February 1979 - "He was awarded the BCR, as a result of his actions in a contact in October 1978. Despite having a shattered femur and bleeding heavily, he refused to be casevaced and continued to direct the fight. His bravery and dedication was far beyond the normal call of duty"; MFC (Ops) Awarded 31 March 1978 - "For dragging a wounded comrade, under heavy fire, out of a cave where a CT had established himself"