"Harrison" AIR 2/6170 (2)

The following Recommendation has been received from the C.O., R.A.F. Station, Manby : -

“Civilian Armament Instructor (Grade I) Leonard HARRISON, Royal Air Force Station, Manby.

to be a Member of the British Empire Order (Civil Division)

by reason of

his disregard of danger, and devotion to duty, in rendering valuable assistance to his Armament Officers in unarming and rendering safe unexploded German bombs and a new type of German depth-charge in ships off GRIMSBY on February 12th, 1940, March 22nd, 1940 and June 7th, 1940. On all occasions Civilian Armament HARRISON assisted in the removal of the fuses from the bombs and manhandled the latter from the ships concerned. In addition, this Civilian Armament Instructor, mainly through his own initiative and private study, became the authority at MANBY on the fuse and exploder systems in German bombs before the information became generally available. Through his personal instruction, both the armament Officers concerned felt confident to accept the risks they did.”

The covering remarks by the A.O.C.-inc., Flying Training Command, were as follows: -

“I recommend the award of the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry to Civilian Armament Instructor HARRISON as a fitting recognition of the conspicuous courage and skill shown by him in assisting in the removal of fuses from unexploded German bombs and a depth charge on three separate occasions and, in particular, in his able assistance to Flight Lieutenant DOWLAND in removing the fuses from a bomb that was embedded in the deck of S.S. “KILDARE” on February 12th, 1940, in conditions of great difficulty and of peculiar danger owing to uncertainty as to the enemy's method of fusing.”

Flight Lieutenant DOWLAND to whom the A.Q.C.-in-C. refers has been put forward to the Central Selection Committee for an award of the G.C.

On the second occasion referred to above, i.e. March 22nd, Mr. Harrison was associated with Flight Lieutenant Garland who has been separately recommended by the A.O.C.-in-C., Flying Training Command for the award of a Commendation, though he was recommended by the A.O.C. of the Group for appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

In all the circumstances, the Committee may wish to recommend Mr. HARRISON for the award of a George Medal.

4th November, 1940.