Arthur Gerald Harris

Captain (retired) Arthur Gerald Harris, R.N. (21 March, 1886 – 18 July, 1947) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of a banker, Harris was born in Bradford, Yorks. He passed out of Britannia in May, 1902 and spent nearly two and a half years in the battleship Formidable in the Mediterranean, during which time he received practical instruction in navigation. Captain Chisholm-Batten noted his capacity for the French language and wrote of him, "Very upright. who will do well." Harris was sent on to the Kent of the Cruiser Squadron until July, 1905 when he underwent his seamanship examination, obtaining only a third-class certificate. Later exams at the Naval College over the next year produced third-class certificates in Navigation and second-class in Pilotage, Gunnery and Torpedoes.

After participating in the Annual Manoeuvres in June 1906 in the destroyer Jed, Harris spent four months in the cruiser Roxburgh before being appointed to the destroyer Kale on 15 November, 1906.

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1907, Harris remained in Kale until being appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 81 on 18 February, 1908.

Harris was appointed to the battlecruiser Princess Royal of the First Cruiser Squadron on 14 November, 1912. This would remain his home for some time. Harris was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1915 and be present at the Battle of Jutland.

Harris left Princess Royal when he was appointed to the light cruiser Centaur in January, 1918, and at the end of 1920 he was the senior officer aboard, though he was not apparently ever appointed in command of the ship.

Harris was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1920. Apart from some time in 1922 on loan to the Royal Australian Navy, Harris would spend much of the 1920s appointed to Barracks or undertaking instruction, but from August 1928 he commanded flotilla leader Saumarez. On 29 November 1928, he damaged Veteran in a collision while coming alongside, for which he would be cautioned by Commander-in-Chief, Devonport to be more careful in future. He would transfer to command of H.M.S. Keppel around September, 1930.

From 14 November 1930 until 21 September, 1931, he was appointed to Carysfort as Commander (D), Devonport and for command of Destroyers in Reserve at that port.

Harris was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 21 March, 1932.

World War II

Harris was appointed to the armed merchant cruiser Jervis Bay on 2 September, 1939, to assume command upon her commissioning.

He was granted the acting rank of Captain on 10 November, 1939. After leaving command of his A.M.C. in early 1940, Harris was briefly reverted to the Retired List before being appointed as Chief Staff Officer to the Flag Officer in Charge, Harwich from 29 January, 1941 until 14 November, 1942. Later in the war, he participated on Engineering Cadet Selection Boards.

Harris died when a gastric ulcer hemmorrhaged.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia
• H.M.S. Princess Royal at the Battle of Jutland

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Charles R. Samson	Captain of H.M. T.B. 81 18 Feb, 1908 – 7 Apr, 1908	Succeeded by Lionel G. Preston
Preceded by Lionel G. Preston	Captain of H.M. T.B. 107 7 Apr, 1908 – Jan, 1910	Succeeded by Alexander L. Fletcher
Preceded by Stuart E. Holder	Captain of H.M.S. Saumarez 23 Aug, 1928 – Sep, 1930	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Cyril G. Sedgwick	Captain of H.M.S. Keppel Sep, 1930 – 14 Nov, 1930	Succeeded by Percy R. P. Percival
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Jervis Bay 2 Sep, 1939 – 11 Feb, 1940	Succeeded by James A. P. Blackburn