Major John Alfred Harrison, The Parachute Regiment (1943+): new title, new appeal

Mod edit - for most recent appeal for info - go to post 18 Major John Alfred Harrison, The Parachute Regiment (1943+)


Earlier this year I acquired the attached rank slides for a Lieutenant. The rank pips have Cambridge blue backing, which would denote belonging to either the Army Air Corps or the Army Education Corps. I am of course hoping that they belonged to a member of the AAC (Parachute Regt, Glider Pilot Regt or SAS).

I would like to find out who the original owner was. Fortunately, on the back of one of the slides one can just about read the name of the original owner, namely "LT HARRIS...". Initially, I took this information and tried to find a Lt Harris in either the AAC or Army Education Corps, in the Army Lists for 1942 - 1946.

The only match I found at the time was a Lt George Cooper Harris of the Parachute Regt. I then tried to find out more about this particular gentleman in a previous thread.

However, on closer examination of the slide with the name on, I have now realised that the end of the slide was folded over inside, hiding the initial of the gentleman in question. Thus revealing the name " LT HARRIS N.".

This being the case, would anyone have any information on who Lt. N. Harris might be?

Any help appreciated!

 

Good thinking!

My brain obviously is not working quickly enough on this one. Let me check...

 

In the right light... yes, it indeed looks like it is actually "LT HARRISON"!

 

Okay, I have found record of a Lt L Harrison, 284943, who transferred from the Lancashire Fusiliers to the Glider Pilot Regiment on 7 June 1944. He is listed as such in the London Gazette, dated 6 October 1944.

Still interested to know of any other possibilities...

 

Laurence Harrison was killed on Op Varsity 24th March 1945

 

UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
Name: Laurence Harrison
Given Initials: L
Rank: Lieutenant
Death Date: 24 Mar 1945
Number: 284943
Birth Place: Derbyshire
Residence: Derbyshire
Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps
Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
Regiment at Death: Glider Pilot Regt
Branch at Death: Army Air Corps

Germany, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Name: Laurence Harrison
Maiden Name:
Death Date: 24 Mar 1945
Cemetery: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Kleve, Klever Landkreis, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Has Bio?: N
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/mem...

Casualty

TD

 

Have started trawling through Army Lists again, looking for "Harrison" and finding a few, including JA Harrison in Parachute Regt and RD Harrison in GPR. Will continue to check possibilities...

 

Okay, in addition to Laurence Harrison, GPR, I have found the following who served with AAC...

1. Parachute Regiment:
John Alfred Harrison
Sergeant, 2613643, Grenadier Guards
Commissioned 2nd Lt, 294974, from the ranks, on 2 Sep 1943, into Recce Corps
Transferred from Recce Corps to Parachute Regt, on 11 Dec 1943, as Lt
Temp Captain 10 Aug 1944
WS Capt 28 Oct 1944
Temp Major 28 Oct 1944

2. Glider Pilot Regiment:
Ronald David Harrison
Commissioned 2nd Lt, on 17 Oct 1943, 307386, into East Yorks Regt
WS Lieutenant 17 Apr 1944
Transferred from E Yorks Regt to GPR, on 12 Nov 1945
By 2nd Quarter 1946 had been released, as Hon Capt

3. SAS:
Derrick Inskip Harrison
Commissioned 2nd Lt, 145763, on 24 Aug 1940, into Cheshire Regt
WS Lieutenant 24 Feb 1942
Temp Captain 8 Nov 1942
Transferred from Cheshire Regt to SAS, on 1 Apr 1944, as Lt
Awarded Military Cross, for gallant & distinguished services in NW Europe, on 22 Mar 1945, as Temp Capt
Relinquished commission, on 16 Jun 1946, due to disability

 

Also, the following who served with the Army Education Corps...

4. Army Education Corps:
Ivan Robert Sinclair Harrison
Commissioned as 2nd Lt, 133905, on 26 Jun 1940, into RASC
Awarded Military Cross
Transferred from RASC to AEC, on 18 Dec 1940, as 2nd Lt
WS Capt / Temp Maj on 14 Jan 1943

5. Army Education Corps
G. Harrison
Commissioned as 2nd Lt, on 13 Jun 1944
WS Lt 13 Dec 1944
Temp Capt 15 Nov 1945

 

So, in summary, my possibilities are:

1. John Alfred Harrison, 294974, Parachute Regiment
2. Ronald David Harrison, 307386, Glider Pilot Regiment
3. Derrick Inskip Harrison, MC, 145763, SAS
4. Ivan Robert Sinclair Harrison, MC, 133905, Army Education Corps
5. G Harrison, Army Education Corps

6. Laurence Harrison, 284943, Glider Pilot Regiment

I was hoping to narrow down the possibilities even further, but not sure how; any ideas are welcome!.

If anyone has further information on any of the above gentlemen, I would be most grateful if they can share it.

 

SAS Harrison, Derrick Inskip

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Derr...ge=1&rh=n:266239,p_27:Derrick Inskip Harrison

Recommendation for Award for Harrison, Derrick Inskip Rank: Lieutenant ... | The National Archives

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34934/supplement/5275/data.pdf

TD

 

Just a thought but are you sure the backing is Cambridge Blue and not another faded colour? Certainly the two 'loose pips' do not seem to be what I would call Cambridge Blue.

Extracted from: Officer Slides (colours)

ACI 1118 of 1940 with later amendments lists as Officers Coloured Rank Backings.

Staff - Red
RAC - Yellow
RA - Red
RE - Blue
R Sigs - Blue
Infintry (Less Rifles) - Scarlet
Rifles - Rifle Green with Black Centre
Recon Corps - Creen (added by ACI 420 of 1941)
RAChD - Black (changed to Purple with Black Centre by ACI 125 of 1941)
RASC - Yellow
RAMC - Dull Cherry
RAOC - Dark Blue (changed to Red by ACI 2587 of 1941)
CMP - Red
RAPC - Yellow
AEC - Blue (amended by ACI 905 of 1943)
Air Defence Corps - Green
AMPC - Red
Int Corps - Green
General List - Scarlet
APTC - Black (added by ACI 660 of 1941)
ACC - Gray (add by ACI 2587 of 1941)
AAC - Cambridge Blue (added by ACI 905 of 1943) inc Glider Pilots & Parachute Regt
REME - Dark Blue (added by ACI 905 of 1943)
Pioneer Corps - Red (added by ACI 905 of 1943)
MPSC - Red (added by ACI 313 of 1944)

Tim

 

Thank you for sharing information Tim.

Yes, I am absolutely sure that the pips are with the correct colour backing for AAC (i.e. Cambridge blue), bearing in mind that that ones on the slides certainly faded. Please see attached photos which show the colour compared to those of three other 'loose' pips and a crown, which were a wartime souvenir of my grandfather, who served with the Glider Pilot Regiment (1942-1946). Also, another rank slide for a Captain.

 

I have also now checked back with the gent from whom I purchased the rank slides a few years ago.

They came together with some wartime Parachute Regiment shoulder titles and Pegasus patches, in a box. The other items were purchased by a well known dealer in Airborne militaria.

This being the case, it looks like the rank slides and pips belonged to John Alfred Harrison of the Parachute Regiment.

I have now also found out that he was awarded the DCM, for service in the Middle East, on 19 Aug 1943. According to the London Gazette entry, he was from Wallesey, Cheshire.

Would anyone know anything about the service of John Alfred Harrison? It would at least be good to know which battalion of the Parachute Regiment he served with?

 

Granted an emergency commission as a 2nd Lt from the Grenadier Guards 2 September 1943.

Previous NCO number 2613643. Commissioned number 294974.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36262/supplement/5182/data.pdf

 

His citation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal indicates that, at that time, he was with the 6th (Motorised) Battalion of the Grenadier Guards, which probably informed his move to the Recce Corps once commissioned. See attached...

Anything on his service with the Parachute Regiment would still be of great interest!

 

Following from my previous thread:
www.ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/lt-harris-or-harrison-army-air-corps.75083/

I would be most grateful if anyone can tell me about the service of John Alfred Harrison with the Parachute Regiment. I am particularly interested to know which parachute battalion (brigade or division) he served with.

As noted in the previous thread, I have so far managed to find out the following:

• Home address in 1943 was in Wallasey, Cheshire
  
• Sergeant, 2613643, 6th (Motorised) Battalion, Grenadier Guards
  
• Awarded the DCM, for service in the Middle East, on 19 Aug 1943
• Commissioned 2nd Lt, 294974, from the ranks, on 2 Sep 1943, into Recce Corps
  
• Transferred from Recce Corps to Parachute Regt, on 11 Dec 1943, as Lt
  
• Temp Captain 10 Aug 1944
  
• WS Capt 28 Oct 1944
  
• Temp Major 28 Oct 1944

 

why dont you keep it to one thread and change the heading of your first thread
it stops people chasing their tails

 

Thank you for the advice!

I did not actually realise that one could edit the headline; otherwise, I would have gone for that option. Certainly noted for the future!