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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: HogHedge on Wednesday 09 January 08 23:44 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
My granduncle served at El Alamein in the 9th Queens Royal Lancers and was awarded a medal for his service. The citation for the medal in the London Gazette reads:-
"No. 317557 Sergeant (acting Squadron Quarter-Master-Sergeant) Arthur George Harriss, 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, Royal Armoured Corps. This N.C.O.'s troop leader was killed at an early stage of the Battle of Alamein, and at a critical time Hariss took command of the troop and handled it thereafter with outstanding courage and ability.
On 24th October, 1942, Hariss was troop sergeant of the second troop to pass through the enemy minefield. his tank was brought to a standstill through the driver being hit. However, he calmly continued to fight his tank and use his field glasses under intense fire, destroying three enemy tanks and spotting two 88-mm. guns which the troop destroyed by shell fire. On this day this N.C.O. displayed outstanding courage and ability in a situation when much depended on the few tanks which had forced a bridgehead.
On 2nd November, 1942, his squadron was attacked by seventeen enemy tanks. Hariss had just lost his operator, but he continued to load his gun, use his wireless and at the same time command the troop. He fired eighty rounds in this action, scoring many hits on the enemy, who were eventually compelled to withdraw. His own tank was hit repeatedly."
From what I have quickly read (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_El_Alamein)
would he have been serving in X Corps in Phase I of the 2nd Battle of El Alamein (under New Zealand command) and been amongst the first twelve tanks into the assault? And then in Phase 4, Operation Supercharge, been in the 9th Armoured Brigade attached to the New Zealander Brigadier Currie which Montgomery had said of "he was aware of the risk and has accepted the possibility of losing 100% casualties in 9 Armoured Brigade to make the break, but in view of the promise of immediate following through of 1 Armoured Division, the risk was not considered as great as all that."!!!
Or am I totally confused? If anyone with more knowledge of El Alamein can help explain what he experienced it would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
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Post your question here http://ddaydodgers.proboards101.com/ there are a number of real spotters ;) on there who will be able to clear things up for you.... :D
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Thanks scrimnet, I will give it a go.
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BTW
Which award or decoration did he get??
Ah found it now, the Military Medal, the Other ranks version of the MC...
I would have though he would have got something a bit better than that, as he appears to have ensured the success of the operation in that area...
Is he the son of Arthur George Harriss KIA WW1 from Bury St Edmunds?
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Military Medal
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Yes, I've amended my post! (see above!)
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No he was from Bucks.
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I wondered if you had seen this ! ...... maybe they knew each other !!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/74/a6399174.shtml
http://photos.kiloran.com/c225557.html
Annie :)
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Thanks, very interesting, esp. the piccies.
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There is plenty of mention of him in C Squadron unit history:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l2jCshvZ7C3oFCRv8lsk_yoy9VYPeWYRO3kuUo6KwzI/edit
Sounds quite a character!
Just noticed that the photos I put up in the link above are no longer online, I'll get that sorted today and post a new link.