War Diary Extracts - WW1 - and Military Service details
Henry Neville Baskcomb Harrison - died 16th March 1915
March 1915 The London Gazette, 6 January 1911 Chancery of the Royal Victorian Order St James' Palace, January 6th 1911 The KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the visit of Field Marshal H R H the Duke of Connaught, to South Africa, to represent His Majesty at the opening of the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa, to make the following promotions and appointments to the Royal Victorian Order, to take effect from the dates noted:- To be Members of the Fifth Class November 9th 1910. Lieutenant Henry Neville Baskcomb Harrison, 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (also published in the Edinburgh Gazette on 10th January 1911) 2nd Battalion 04.08.1914 Stationed at Hong Kong. Nov 1914 Arrived in England and moved to Winchester and joined the 82nd Brigade of the 27th Division. 21.12.1914 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including; 1915 The action of St Eloi, The Second Battle of Ypres Henry Neville Bascomb Harrison Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry - 2nd Battalion Transcription from War Diary - WO 95_2266_2 March 14th 1915 - Dickebusch The morning and afternoon were particularly quiet. At 5pm a terrific explosion took place under the mound which collapsed burying the machine gun team which was stationed in it. At the same moment trenches 17 & 18 were blown up by mines. The Germans at once swarmed out of their saps heads and proceeded to attack the blown in trenches. They were headed by men who had no rifles but who carried bombs and hand grenades. A & C Coys were bombed out of their trenches and forced to retire after suffering very heavy casualties. D Coy on the right was not so severely attacked and was able to hold its trenches and B Coy remained in S9. Our casualties were:- Officers killed 6 - (Captain A C Saunders, Lieutenant A W Batson, Lieut. W G Rawlinson, 2nd Lt E N Vowler, 2nd Lt A Colley, 2nd Lt D Mc K Mac D O'Callaghan). Missing believed killed Lieut R M Aston. Wounded Capt & Adjt H N Bascomb Harrison MVO, 2nd Lt B A S Lewin. Other ranks killed 42, wounded 59, missing 35. 2nd Lieut A P Morse joined today. March 15th 1915 At 2am a counter attack took place on the mound by the Royal Irish Regiment. It failed but the R B trench was recaptured. Throughout the day our artillery shelled the mound and the battalion was relieved by the Royal Irish Regt about midnight, except B Coy which remained in S9 until the evening of the 16th March 16th 1915 D, A & C Coys reached Dickebusch at 4.30am and bivouacked in the transport lines. Paraded at 2.30pm and marched to Voormezeele where we went into cellars. At 6pm C Coy went to St Eloi and were relieved at midnight. D & A Coys went to S.12 which they left at 11.30pm. B Coy were relieved about 11pm. Captain H N B Harrison died of wounds in the hospital at Poperinghe at 2pm. 2nd Lt H G Morris and a draft of 85 other ranks arrived. Exeter Officer's Death 26 march 1915 - western times Captain and Adjutant Bascomb Harrison, M V O of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, who has died from wounds received in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle. He was the eldest son of Dr Bascomb Harrison of Friars House Exeter. The deceased Officer joined the Army in 1901, went through the Boer War, receiving the Queen's and King's Medals. He was at the battles of Belfort and Sydenberg. He was 36 years of age and except 12 months all his military career was spent in foreign service. An intimation was received just prior to his death that he was to be recompensed for distinguished service in the field. Medal roll records the award of British War and Victory medals. Also D of W 18. 3. 15 Medal card records that he was ineligible for the 1914 star because he served in Hong Kong. He was awarded the 1915 Star. There is a note on the reverse of the card that 2nd Lieut E E Baskcombe- Harrison applied for 1914 Star on behalf of his father Dr H Baskcombe-Harrison in respect of the services of his brother the late Capt H N Baskcombe Harrison - Address 2 Clarence Road, Exmouth, Devon Transcribed from the War Diary of the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in March 1915 |