Forbes-Harriss, Clifford Roy

Date of death:: September 9th, 1944 (Greece)
Buried on:: Arlington National Cemetery
Plot: 2. Grave: Coll 3435F.
Service number:: 151767
Nationality:: British

Biography

Major. Royal Engineers.

The following is from the OSS archives
SOE/OSS killed Greece 9 September 1944. On the 9th September 1944, both engines failed on a C47, flying in bad weather, whilst on a photographic reconnaissance mission over central Greece. The aircraft crashed into the side of a mountain near the hamlet of Stevenikon. As well as the crew on board the Dakota of 12th Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) based in Brindisi were several members of both SOE Force 133 and their US counterparts the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Those lost on board were:
DAVISON P Captain Pilot (also CO 12th TCS)
VOLK J 2Lt Co-Pilot
QUEGAN E.L. Captain Navigator
GINGERESKY P S/Sgt Radio Operator
HOXSIE T Cpl Engineer
POBERAJ A AC2 Air Despatcher
FARISH L.M. Lt-Col OSS
HISCOCKS EH Lt-Col SOE
FORBES-HARRISS CR Major SOE
WATSON G Captain SOE
POTGIETER V Lt SOE
THOMAS KWC Cpl SOE

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Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Major
Unit:: Force 133, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:: September 7th, 1944

"Maj HARRIS was parachuted into GREECE on 10 Oct 43 and remained there until 20 May 44.

During his stay he was engaged on reconnoitring for suitable landing sites for aircraft from the point of view of both immediate and future use. For practically the whole of the period of his stay in GREECE - more than seven months - he was on the move and under conditions of extreme difficulty has travelled some 3,200 miles through the districts of THESSALY, ROUMELI, EPIRUS and S. MACEDONIA, all districts occupied by considerable German forces. He was able to report on 42 different sites, 39 of which are considered suitable for some of the various types of aircraft in use. Several of the sites have been used in recent ops, 2 of them repeatedly.

As a result of Maj HARRISS' work we have now very clear details, including plans, of a large number of suitable or readily-prepared landing grounds all over the Greek mainland. Rapid and sure communications with the partisans are ensured. A very clear conception has been gained of the best sites which can be used when the occupation of GREECE is undertaken.

Maj HARRISS is recommended for the award of the O.B.E."

Posthumously awarded (London Gazette, d. 4 January 1945)