Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Second World War B.E.F. 1940 D.C.M. group of five awarded to Lieutenant W. Harrison, Pioneer Corps, late Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (5945343 W.O. Cl. 2 W. Harrison, Bedfs. & Herts.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (5945343 Sjt. W. Harrison, Bedfs. & Herts.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, minor official correction to unit on the first, generally good very fine (5) £2500-3000

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1940. The original recommendation states:

‘The enemy were shelling ‘B’ Company’s forward position at Avelghem when P.S.M. Warren was reported as seriously injured and unable to move in front. C.S.M. Harrison immediately called for a volunteer and with Private Peakes went out, still under shell and rifle fire, and with no regard to his own safety brought back the wounded Warrant Officer.

During the withdrawal through La Panne his Company Commander was seriously wounded. He arranged for him to be assisted to the beach and then took charge of the Company. He obtained a motor cycle and under heavy shelling found an alternative route to the beaches in order to minimise losses to the Company. He thereby managed to bring about 75 percent of the Company to the beaches where he had them under complete control.

Throughout the Flanders withdrawal, C.S.M. Harrison by displaying consistent courage and leadership was a fine example to those around him.’

Of events at the time the recipient’s Company Commander was mortally wounded on the beach at La Panne, regimental sources state:
‘It was here that we learnt, with deep regret, of the death of Captain G. H. Onslow. Onslow had reached La Panne, bringing up the rear of his Company, when he was badly wounded in the face and head by a shell. He was assisted on the beach by C.S.M. Harrison and others, but it was obvious that he was badly wounded. Soon afterwards a machine-gun attack by an enemy aircraft killed him. So we lost a great comrade who had so successfully commanded Carriers, battle patrols (with which he did so well on the Saar front) and ‘B’ Company. He would have been pleased to know that his Company’s work was well appreciated and that the three D.C.Ms were awarded had all gone to Warrant Officers of ‘B’ Company.’

Following his gallant deeds in Flanders, Wilfred Harrison was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Pioneer Corps in December 1942, but was dismissed from the Service by sentence of a Field General Court Martial on 8 June 1944 (London Gazette 9 June 1944 refers).

Sold with a wartime photograph of three officers, including the recipient, the reverse captioned, ‘As Officer Commanding Special Training Wing (all African), Quassasin, Middle East, promoted T./Capt. 25.8.43, myself with 2 i/c and Adjutant’, and a post card format photograph of officers, again including the recipient, taken at ‘Chindit H.Q.’ India; together with copied research from the regimental history and journal, in which Harrison is mentioned.