Auction Catalogue

10 & 11 May 2017

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 193

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10 May 2017

Hammer Price:
£260

Four: Captain F. C. Harrison, Royal Army Medical Corps, who served as Medical Officer to the 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, and died of the wounds he received in action on 13 October 1918, in one of the Battalion’s final actions of the Great War

1914-15 Star (Lieut: F. C. Harrison. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. F. C. Harrison.); Coronation 1911 (Cadet Sergt. F. C. Harrison. Sheffield University Contingent. O.T.C.) extremely fine (4) £240-280

Frank Cecil Harrison was educated at Sheffield University and the Royal Dental Hospital, London. He joined the Special Reserve of the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Lieutenant on 10 August 1914, and served during the Great War on the Western Front with No. 8 General Hospital. Promoted Captain on 3 August 1915, he was subsequently attached to the 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, as their Medical Officer, and was serving with them on the Western Front in October 1918, in one of the Battalion’s final actions of the Great War:
‘The 13th October was, more or less, an “off” day for the Battalion. At 9:00 a.m. the 19th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers attacked through the Battalion. The attack was unsuccessful. It came under heavy artillery and machine gun fire from the high ground east of the river, which was strongly held by the enemy, and was unable to make any progress. Throughout the day the Battalion maintained the positions it had won on the previous night. Several casualties were suffered from the defensive barrage put down by the enemy, among them being Captain F. C. Harrison, the popular and cheery little Medical Officer. His slit in the railway cutting was hit by a shell, and he was so severely wounded that he died before he could be got to the advanced dressing station.’ (
History of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment 1914-19, by Captain P. G. Bales refers).

Harrison is buried in Wellington Cemetery, Rieux-en-Cambresis, France.