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 Barton 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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
Harris was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1920. He would spend much of the 1920s appointed to Barracks or undertaking instruction, but from August 1928 until September 1930, he commanded flotilla leaders Saumarez and Keppel.[6]
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.[7]
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. He 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.[8]
Harris died when a gastric ulcer hemmorrhaged.
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Charles R. Samson |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 81 18 Feb, 1908[9] – 7 Apr, 1908 |
Succeeded by Lionel G. Preston |
| Preceded by Lionel G. Preston |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 107 7 Apr, 1908[10] – Jan, 1910 |
Succeeded by Alexander L. Fletcher |
| Preceded by Stuart E. Holder |
Captain of H.M.S. Saumarez 23 Aug, 1928[11] – 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 |
Footnotes
- ↑ Harris Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/125. f. 235.
- ↑ Harris Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/125. f. 235.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 15 February, 1908. Issue 38570, col B, p. 12.
- ↑ Harris Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/125. f. 235.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 743.
- ↑ Harris Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/125. f. 235.
- ↑ Harris Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/125. f. 235.
- ↑ Harris Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/125. f. 235.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. Saturday, 15 February, 1908. Issue 38570, col B, p. 12.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 401a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 267.
