Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Civilian Armaments Instructor

Unit:

RAF Station Manby, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

January 3rd, 1941

Citation:
"In February 1940 when serving as a civilian instructor at RAF Manby he was called to use his knowledge and skill when a grain carrier limped into Immimgham Dock with an unexploded bomb wedged in the main deck. With help from colleagues Harrison defused the bomb which had a fuze of a type unknown at that time. A few weeks later there was a similar incident involving another bomb onboard a fishing vessel in the Humber which again was successfully defused."

Joint recommendation with J.N. Dowland:
"On 12 February 1940, the S.S. Kildare arrived in Immingham Docks with a 250 Kilo German bomb wedged half-through the main deck. Flight Lieutenant Dowland inspected the bomb and realising that the fuse was of a type of which no previous knowledge was available, ordered his men below. Civilian Armament Instructor Harrison, however, remained with him while the bomb was defused and gave valuable assistance.

On 22 March and 7 June 1940, he gave similar assistance in unarming and rendering safe unexploded German bombs and a new type of German depth-charge in ships off Grimsby.

On all three occasions Mr. Harrison displayed conspicuous courage and devotion to duty in circumstances of exceptional danger and difficulty. He has also through his own initiative and private study become an authority on the fuse and exploder systems in German bombs."

This was de first action for which the George Cross was directly awarded.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

“Bomb and Mine Clearance” clasp