British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The exceptional Great War Q-ship operations D.S.C. and Bar group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Commander W. S. Harrison, Royal Naval Reserve, Navigating Officer of “The splendid Penshurst”

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, hallmarks for London 1916; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. W. S. Harrison, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lieut. W. S. Harrison, R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last three privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Cmd. W. S. Harrison, D.S.C., R.N.’, generally good very fine or better (7) £8000-10000

Ex Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris collection (Part I), Dix Noonan Webb, 1 October 1996 (Lot 646).

D.S.C. London Gazette 23 May 1917: ‘Honours for miscellaneous services.’

His service record states: ‘Was in a ship which engaged enemy submarines on 20 and 22 February, and 8 March 1917. His behaviour was admirable throughout. Their Lordships appreciation expressed of the way in which he carried out his duty.’

Bar to D.S.C. London Gazette 29 August 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’

His service record states: ‘Displayed excellent spirit and perfect discipline, and rendered the most valuable assistance to his C.O. on the occasion of an action with an enemy submarine on 2 July 1917.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 2 November 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’

His service record states: ‘For the efficient way in which he carried out his duties both during the action with an enemy submarine on 19 August 1917, and afterwards in bringing the ship safely into harbour in her waterlogged condition.’

William Strickland Harrison joined the Royal Navy Reserve as a Temporary Sub. Lieutenant in February 1915, when he was appointed to the armed merchant cruiser H.M.S. Alsatian, flying the flag of Rear Admiral de Chair, C.B., M.V.O.

Having previously served as an officer in the Mercantile Marine, he quickly gained advancement to Temporary Acting Lieutenant in June 1915, at which stage he volunteered for ‘special service’, the beginning of a remarkable wartime career in “Mystery Ships”, not least the period of his employment in one of the most celebrated Q-ships of the War, “The splendid Penshurst”. In fact he was present in all of her actions from late 1916 until her loss in December 1917, originally under the command of Captain Francis Grenfell, R.N., and latterly Lieutenant Cedric Naylor, R.N.R. - the latter, who had been Grenfell’s “Jimmy the One”, became the most decorated Naval Officer of the Great War, winning three D.S.Os and two D.S.Cs, the whole services in Penshurst.

Harrison first went into action in the Penshurst in November 1916, when she sank the UB-19 on the 30th. The latter had been spotted by a seaplane lying off Alderney, Grenfell putting off the “panic party” and then engaging the enemy submarine from 250 yards - 13 of UB-19’s crew were rescued.




Then on 14 January 1917, she sighted the UB-37, Kapitain Lieutnant Günther. The U-Boat opened fire immediately and Grenfell ordered the usual “abandon ship” tactics to be carried out. Slowly the UB-37 closed in until she was 700 yards off the Q-ship’s starboard bow and twice in succession Penshurst was hit by shell fire and several members of her crew, who were waiting in concealment for the order to open fire, were killed or wounded. At first Grenfell anticipated that Günther would take UB-37 around to the Q-ship’s boats off Penshurt’s port quarter and that such action would afford the opportunity of decreasing the range, but it soon became obvious that Günther had no intention of closing in and Grenfell decided to reveal his true colours and commence an action. At 4.24 p.m. Penshurst hoisted her White Ensign and her apparently deserted decks became alive with activity as the screens concealing her armament were lowered and her guns opened a rapid fire on the submarine. The first shell from Penshurst’s 12-pounder struck the base of UB-37‘s conning tower and when the black smoke which resulted from the violent explosion had cleared away, it was observed that a part of the U-Boat’s conning tower was missing. A second shell caused further damage to UB-37‘s hull and at least four more hits were registered on her conning tower before she sank to the bottom with all hands. To ensure the U-Boat’s destruction, Penshurst steamed over the position where she had disappeared and dropped depth-charges before returning to Portland.

Just over a month later, on 22 February, following an inconclusive action two days earlier, Penshurst engaged the U-84 off the south coast of Ireland. Having avoided a torpedo attack, Grenfell and his men achieved several hits, causing U-84 significant damage and wounding members of her crew - the U-Boat managed to limp back to Germany on the surface, where Admiral Scheer described her survival as a miracle.

On 8 March Grenfell fought another surface action with a U-Boat at the Eastern end of the English Channel. Both vessels were badly damaged, Penshurst requiring a major refit. Harrison was awarded the D.S.C. Cedric Naylor now assumed command, and fought his first action as captain on 2 July, in the Western Approaches, his gunners getting in 16 hits on the U-Boat before it fled the scene as three of our destroyers pitched up. Harrison was awarded a Bar to his D.S.C.

Again in action on 19 August, Penshurst was torpedoed and badly damaged by gunfire, exposing her hidden guns. Despite this, the U-Boat surfaced and Penshurst pretended to “run away” according to plan. She then opened fire with her 3-pounder gun in an attempt to entice the submarine closer before opening up with her heavier guns. Hits were scored against the U-Boat and eventually Penshurst used her 12-pounder with good effect and hit the submarine four times, causing it to break off the action and dive. Penshurst, badly damaged, was unable to follow up with depth charges, and so set course for Plymouth and much needed repairs. Harrison, who was mentioned in despatches, is believed to have been present in Penshurst’s final action on 24 December 1917, in the Irish Sea, versus the U-110, when she was again torpedoed, this time fatally - with two exceptions, however, all the crew were subsequently rescued.

Following his Q-ship career, Harrison was appointed to the Rhododendron for escort duties in the North Atlantic in February 1918. Then in June of the same year he removed to President III for services with Defensively Armed Merchant Ships. He was finally demobilised in April 1919, when he returned to the Mercantile Marine.

Recalled on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, Harrison was appointed a Temporary Lieutenant in May 1940, in which month he joined the boom defence vessel Barnwell, and he remained similarly employed until taking command of the Atalanta in November 1941, in the acting rank of Lieutenant-Commander. This appointment was short-lived, however, for a few weeks later he removed to the command of the Forward for minesweeping duties out of Newhaven. Harrison’s final wartime appointment was at the Boom Defence Depot in Portsmouth, from May 1944, and he was demobilised in November 1945.