Arthur Leyland Harrison

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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

  1. Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
  2. Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
  3. Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
  4. Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
  5. Harrison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/228. f. ?.
  6. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 399.
  7. "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Thursday, 16 March, 1911. Issue 39534, col B, p. 6.
  8. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 400.
  9. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), 26 Aug. 1911, p. 11.