Help: Court Martialled & Missing in UK, Capt: Albert Edward Harrison AIF

[Redroger]

Ian, In an attempt to widen the search it might be worthwhile to see whether one or preferably more of these men referred to as having entries regarding suspense list etc. have any record of GCM against them. The thought of possibly an unofficial penal battalion springs to mind. If a pattern emerges then it might be worthwhile looking for a man with an uncommon surname in this context, to see where it takes us.
Roger

[Craven-Harrison]

Roger,

I agree that the issue of the similar MIC's must be resolved in concert with the conventional research that is evolving at Kew with yourself and jds1949

I'm wishing I could meet up with you both at the TNA and at least make a nuisance of myself. These abstract and peripheral research sidelines that I am undertaking are to some extent, all I can offer, given the tyranny of distance between Oz and the UK. Specifically, the location of the records, your mutual expert knowledge of the British military matters and the belief that AEH's fate and history lies in England, make this quest a UK based matter. And here I am, trapped in the Colonies!!...... LOL

As I said last week, (prior to the discovery of 520 MIC's) I will extract about 10 suitable UK-AIF  MIC's and determine if these men returned to Australia, this is a fairly simple task as there is an Australian Nominal Roll describing what happened to each man at the end of the war, KIA, RTA, Dismissed etc

Depending on this outcome, I propose to take a look at some of their Australian Service Records and then depending on this outcome, check if they have a British Military connection and importantly a Service Record

If you or anybody else has a better idea, please let me know?, perhaps the TNA have some specific knowledge of this aberration??

You said:

"possibly an unofficial penal battalion springs to mind. If a pattern emerges then it might be worthwhile looking for a man with an uncommon surname in this context, to see where it takes us"

Sounds plausible, sounds like the place for all the Lawyers and Pollies to congregate and swap secrets, The Arthur Daley types, AEH would really fit in...LOL 

Notwithstanding the humor, if men were in short supply and as we know from history, being a crook doesn't limit heroism. Men with nothing to loose and a lateral and devious way of thinking could be your most valued soldiers. It’s possible, they probably wouldn't be your most soldierly men, just handy to have around when times get tough, just ask the Yanks who give their jail destined young men two options, Iraq or jail.

If it happens now?  why couldn't it happen then?  good idea!!

Ian

[Redroger]

Ian, it has certainly happened throughout fairly recent British Military History, some men were given a choice, the army/navy or the hangman, particularly after the end of transportation.

[jds1949]

Dear Ian,

Roger and I met up this morning at the NA and spent an enjoyable, but relatively fruitless few hours on the quest.

We first checked the London Gazette entries for A H Harrison between August 1917 and December 1925 - about 8 hits, of which only 2 were relevant. The first was the announcement of the court-martial - nothing new there. The second was potentially more interesting:
Dated 15th October 1919 Bedf. & Herts R. 51st Bn. - lt A E Harrison [4th Bn Norf. R. T. F.] to be acting Capt. while commanding a Co. 12th May 1919.

The Army List for September 1919 had an entry for Harrison A E Lt 4th Bn Norfolk Regiment - commissioned 19th June 1918.

A quick check on the relevant Gradation List gave no officer of that name commissioned on that date. A few moments of hope - dashed when we talked to one of the experts who informed us that the Gradation Lists only covered permanent commissions [not what I had been led to believe earlier] and that temporary officers would not be listed.

Ordered up the man's file and found that it could not possibly be our man - this man was Captain Alfred Ernest Harrison and had a service history which pre-dated our man's court-martial. Indeed, at about the same time as AEH went awol this man was at Ypres, receiving a gun shot wound to his right knee on 31st July 1917.

In between finding the London Gazette entries and getting the file, we spoke at some length to another of the experts about the search. She seemed to think that we had covered pretty much all of the obvious possibilities. She made two suggestions:
1. to look at the Army Lists in the early 1920s - just to make sure that somehow our man hadn't slipped passed unnoticed
2. seriously consider the possibility that our man served on into the 1920s and that if that was the case then any records of him would not be at the National Archives, but still with the Ministry of Defence.

Thoughts and Reflections on the above:

The information about the Gradation Lists means that now we can only say with certainty that no man named AEH was commissioned as a Permanent [as opposed to Temporary] officer between August 1917 and 1920. That leaves the obvious possibility - covered - I think - by the searches in the WO 374 files for temporary officers.

Roger and I are pretty much agreed that the next step would be for you to contact the MoD to see if they are holding any papers for an officer named AEH.

The address/details are as follows:
Historical Disclosures MP 555
Army Personnel Centre
Kentigern House
65, Brown Street
Glasgow G2 8EX
email: disc4@apc.army.mod.uk

Website: www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

My understanding is that these guys will want money and you have to wait for months [literally] before you hear from them again. I suspect they have a mass of enquiries and only a few staff.

I'm sorry that we haven't come up with more. I shall have a look at the later Army Lists [NOT the Gradation Lists] from the 1920-1924 period next time, but I don't hold out much hope.

Regards,

jds1949

[Redroger]

Ian, When John wrote his reply last evening (BST) I was still travelling home, it was one of those days when Londondon Underground, London Overground and the main line railways had conspired to make it virtually impossible to keep to schedule.However, after a night's rest etc. I can now confirm John's findings. Regarding the MOD enquiry my understanding is that not only will they require money,they will need confirmation that you are or represent AEH's next of kin before they will even talk to you. It is correct that you are looking at months rather than weeks before you get a response other than an acknowledgement.An illustration when I applied for my father's homeguard medal they needed a copy of his death certificate, even though they knew he was over 110 years old. Good luck, and if I can help further please let me know.
Roger

[Craven-Harrison]

Dear JDS1949,

firstly, thank you for your interest and time in attempting to unravel this mystery:

The AE Harrison you found who was attached the Bed's and Hert's Reg and the 4th Norf Reg is Alfred Ernest Harrison, I have spent some time on this fellow previously and have quite a lot of info on him in addition to his Service Record. Interestingly there was at one point some concern that his name was actually AE Harris and not Harrison at one stage,  another reason to suspect his authenticity.

However further research revealed an impeccable history with significant personal references, and family connections consistent with a ridgy-didge  British AE Harrison, I have attached a page from his service record, could you please confirm this is the man you found

The non listing of Temporary Officers in the Gradation list is both good and bad,  not having them in the list is a serious shortcoming, but the fact that have this knowledge is better than being misled by the false understanding that he should be in the list and isn't.

In relation to the conversation with the NA expert and her subsequent suggestions, I tend to agree that we are amidst a research process that has covered most of the obvious possibilities, that are either logical or consistent with accepted procedures and methods.

However, this doesn't account for the possibility of information DISTORTION !!!!

I had made an informal approach to the MOD a couple of weeks ago, they haven't got back to me yet, and I didn't expect an answer any time soon. I know of the requirements made of record requestors and these are quite onerous particularly if you are unable to provide such things as the unit or regiment or other relevant particulars. I'll now make a formal enquirery complete with all the unsuccessful background research to date and his personal and AIF military records.

I'm not all that confident about a successful outcome at the MOD. Contemporary privacy rules are good for us all and are usually applied equally across the board for good reason in most circumstances. On this occasion, I would like to inspect quite a few records assuming there might be several men of interest as in the NA records. Never the less, I will ask?!!

It is interesting that you mention that as a result of the limitations of the Gradation Lists not having Temporary Officers listed, that we now know that there were no Permanent Officers with the name AEH commissioned between August 1917 and 1920.

I would love to be 100% sure of any resource, I am beginning to believe that there are so many aberrations in these records, files and indexes that there is some doubt in my mind as to their accuracy. Notwithstanding that we are lucky to heve them at all!! I make the example of the A E Harrison listed in the WO338 written index, extracted and posted here two weeks ago, this is a long number (210475) in the WO338 series and when you go to that record it doesn't exist? Interestingly this Albert Edward Harrison has his unit smudged out by an ink blot, Alfred Ernest Harrison is the next entry of 218661

A couple of questions:

I understood that Temporary Officers had their commissions withdrawn when the war finished in 1918, Why would a Temporary Officer go on after the war had finished and his records be located in the yet unreleased records at the MOD. Weren’t  Temporary Commissions only operational during the War?

If there were no AEH permanent Officers Commissioned in the Gradation list up until 1920 then logically why and how would his records be in the unreleased MOD files. As usual I could be missing something here?.....LOL

As you say, maybe some future luck in the Army lists 1920-1924

I have attached two documents, the one I attached a couple of weeks ago the W)338 index describing A E Harrison long number 210475 with the ink smudge and also Alfred Ernest Harrison 218661 and also Alfred Ernest Harrison's Commission application document for confirmation

Interestingly, with Alfred Ernest Harrison he is given a Temporary Commission in February 1920 after the War has ended, and his records are with the National Archives, how does this work?

Many thanks

Ian

[Craven-Harrison]

Roger,

As with, JDS, thanks for your interest and time in attempting to unravel this mystery:

Ok ,with the prerequisite information that I will require at the MOD, this isn't the first time that I have arrived at this same point in researching AEH and I am prepared for any request that the MOD might make of me.

Were you able to take a look at any of the A Harrison's in the WO339 series and if so which ones?

Cheers

Ian

[Craven-Harrison]

After attaching the above Alfred Ernest Harrison document, I thought I should read and understand it.

Interestingly, it turned out to be the advice to quit his Temporary Commission as a Captain

Ian

[barryd]

What would be very beneficial is A.E. Harrison on the Electoral Rolls for 22 Goring Road,  Bowes Park, especially the 1918 Absent Voters Rolls, then 1919, 1920, and onwards until a Woman's name appears with his or alternately who lives at 22 Goring Road if AEH is never listed. As a British Subject he should be allowed to vote regardless of where he was born.