Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War D.S.O. group of four awarded to Sub. Lieutenant J. O. Harris, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, attached Hawke Battalion, R.N.D., late 8th London Regiment, who is believed to have been recommended for the V.C. for his gallantry as a Company Commander in the fighting on the Canal du Nord in September - he died of wounds received in the action at Niergnies in the following month

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (2196 Pte. J. O. Harris, 8-Lond. R.); British War Medal 1914-20, naming erased; Victory Medal 1914-19, M.I.D. oak leaf (S. Lt. J. O. Harris, R.N.V.R.), the first with slightly recessed centre-piece and traces of repair to central red enamel, otherwise generally very fine or better (4)
£1600-1800

D.S.O. London Gazette 11 January 1919:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. When the advance was checked by heavy machine-gun fire he led his men forward, successfully capturing the machine-gun post and enabling the other companies to advance. Later, he led a party against a bridgehead and captured it, himself charging two machine-gun positions and killing the crews. He set a splendid example of courage and determined leadership.’

Joseph Orlando Harris, who was born in June 1887, was a postman from East London prior to the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Enlisting in the 8th Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), he first saw action out in France in the following year, and was advanced to Sergeant in September 1916.

Commissioned as a Sub. Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in June 1917, he was drafted to Hawke Battalion of the Royal Naval Division and returned to active service in May 1918, when he was appointed Adjutant to Commander Lockwood, who was shortly to be wounded and evacuated.

Of his subsequent D.S.O.-winning exploits on the Canal du Nord during the second battle of Arras in September, and death in action at Niergnies in October, Land-Locked Sailors states:

‘The Royal Naval Division continued to be heavily involved in the second Battle of Arras, an attempt to seize the northern end of the Hindenburg Line and the Drocourt-Quéant system which lay behind it. In this attack on 2 September 1918 Sub.-Lieutenant Harris of Hawke Battalion brought himself to notice by leading his men to capture an enemy machine-gun which was holding up the advance of the brigade ... Hawke Battalion was again in the forefront of the battle on 3 September 1918, when it cleared the trench system in front of lnchy and moved to within striking distance of the Canal du Nord. At this point the enemy held out until Harris led a party of volunteers who captured the bridgehead after the former postman had personally charged two machine-guns and killed their crews. After this feat it appears that he was recommended for the V.C. but, in the event, he was awarded a D.S.O. - still a rare distinction for a junior officer.’

Land-Locked Sailors continues:

‘On 8 October 1918, in the advance on Cambrai and the last serious engagement fought by Hawke Battalion, the Germans launched a vigorous counter-attack headed by captured British tanks, which was beaten off by the British using German anti-tank guns and rifles which had been taken from the enemy a few minutes earlier! Sadly, Harris never lived to wear his decoration as he was hit during this action and died of wounds two days later. He is buried in Delsaux Farm British Cemetery, Beugny, south of Bapaume. His is the only Naval D.S.O. commemorated on the Post Office Memorial in King Edward's Building, London E.C.’

Harris died of multiple gunshot wounds at 29th Casualty Clearing Station. He was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 20 December 1918, refers); sold with a quantity of research, including photocopies of his D.S.O. warrant and picture of his original grave.