Arthur Leyland Harrison
Lieutenant-Commander Arthur Leyland Harrison, V.C. (3 February, 1886 – 23 April, 1918) served in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Torquay the son of a Lieutenant Colonel, Harrison gained two months' time on passing out of Britannia. He first served in Mars in the Channel from mid September 1902. Later appointments found him in Russell and Queen as he acquired second-class certificates in gunnery and torpedoes before 1907.[1]
Harrison was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1908. In November, 1908, Harrison committed a "breach of discipline" in not providing Ball Dress for some required function.[2]
Harrison commanded three torpedo boats in his career, the last one being T.B. 16, which he left on 4 June, 1912 when he was appointed to the battlecruiser Lion of the First Cruiser Squadron. Harrison served in Lion through most of the war, fighting at the Battle of Jutland and other actions, and being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1916 while serving in her.[3]
Harrison died in the Zeebrugge Raid, having landed on the Mole via the ferry Iris II, which was functioning as an armoured assault craft. As the vessel approached the Mole, Harrison was struck by a shell fragment which broke his jaw and knocked him senseless. He rallied himself and landed to take charge of his part on the Mole, but died with most of his party under whithering machine gun fire. Harrison was awarded a Victoria Cross posthumously for his courageous effort.[4]
In 1934, the ex-serviceman's hall in Ghent was renamed for Arthur Leyland Harrison.[5]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Philip H. Irwin as Captain of H.M. T.B. 071 |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 071 5 Dec, 1909[6] – 15 Mar, 1911 |
Succeeded by Henry P. Boxer |
| Preceded by Frederic G. Schurr |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 113 15 Mar, 1911[7][8] – Aug, 1911 |
Succeeded by Humphrey M. Robson |
| Preceded by John L. Field |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 16 Aug, 1911[9] – 4 Jun, 1912 |
Succeeded by Robert W. Richardson |
Footnotes
- ↑ Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
- ↑ Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
- ↑ Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
- ↑ Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
- ↑ Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 399.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Thursday, 16 March, 1911. Issue 39534, col B, p. 6.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 400.
- ↑ "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), 26 Aug. 1911, p. 11.
