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

[Redroger]

Ian, I thought we had told you, but John will confirm, the AEH who was in the Army of Occupation in Germany was the guy who was in the North Norfolk Rgt. if my memory serves me.
Regarding the Russian campaign, after thought it seems that since legally Britain was interfering in the internal affairs of another country, had the campaign been officially recognised then Britain would have committed an act of war against Russia, whichever government was the legal one at the time, so there could be no members of the British Forces there, the whole thing had to be unofficial. This gives me a strong feeling that this Harrison is the right one.Think we should ask about the WW1 Commission Books on the military thread, I have tried a few Googles to no avail. A further thought occurs, I wonder whether a group photo survives of the Officers of the Russian Campaign. After all, the numbers involved? would have been no bigger than a regimental photo

[jds1949]

Just to confirm Roger's point - the AEH in the Army of Occupation was the man from the Norfolk Regiment.

According to the National Archives catalogue there is a list of the officers of the Elope and Syren Forces in Piece WO 106/1151 - that is where I will start next week on my next visit.

jds1949

[Redroger]

Will make a post about Commission Books on the military thread.Thanks, Hopefully next week will show whether the man in Russia can be eliminated, or whether he needs further investigation.

[Craven-Harrison]

Dear jds1959,

regarding the Army of Occupation fellow, thanks for confirmning him to be the Norfolk AEH man.

The Elope and Syren Forces in Piece WO 106/1151, I'll take a look and see if its an on-line resource and if so, do some preparitory long distance searching, are there any resources on-line or other, on the NREF force that you know off?

I'm waiting patiently for a newly purchased book "ANZACS in Arkhangel" which apparenlty has all the Australian Officers and men listed in the back of the book, I'm hoping this could help my/our understading, I'll let you know the outcome as soon as I receive it, hopefully tomorrow.

Ian

[Craven-Harrison]

G'day Roger,

On the posting of a request for information on the Military forums regarding the possibility of surviving Commission Books, thanks for that, it might remove some valuable research time and hard work. Good luck and good hunting..!

Ok, on next week and the Russian trail. I was searching the LG last night specifically looking for Harrison and Russia, and came across a Lt (Hon Captain) Bert E Harrison whilst employed as a Capt 8th/14th June 1918, it was interesting that this person arose with a search including Russia, but there doesn't seem to be any connection to Russia, looks like Flying Core, But I haven't seen this fellow previously and have previously looked at lot of Bert's without success.

Note: Bert is one of the numerous AKA's that I have searched previously and is a preferred name in my alternate name list. Nothing illegal or mysterious in shortening your name from Albert to Bert and serves the dual purpose of enabling the use of your previous Military history and yet muddies the waters for the bounty-hunters on your trail.

Cheers

Ian

[Craven-Harrison]

Dear Roger,

I somehow missed your "216 post" ok on your thoughts of the Russian Intervention the unofficial nature of the force. Yes, I agree that the type of service would have appealed to Albert. He shares my Haplo Q DNA and I'm guessing a type "A" and alpha male personality, If I was Albert, I would join on day one, without hesitation.

Type A's are always up for risk, challenge and something new, coupled with big money and the opportunity to disappear for a while with some degree of anonymity, there are some real advantages for AEH to join this force. A photo, now that might cut through some serious research years.........!!

Cheers

Ian

[Craven-Harrison]

Just took a look at the NA site regarding the Elope and Syren Forces in Piece WO 106/1151 and it's not on-line and only viewable at Kew, good hunting..!

Ian

[Craven-Harrison]

Mulling over the military attributes of Syren and Elope forces against what we know about AEH who apparently joins the "British Regular Forces" as a T2L/t sometime during 1919.

Could the Syren and Elope forces entering Russia be considered British Regular Forces?
Are the preceding two forces all part of the latter NREF force?
and therefore could this force, the NREF be considered the British Regular Forces? 

I believe we agree that these volenteer forces were apparently constructed by individuals  derived from numerous Dominion and Colonial Armies, who had intentionally discharged in England from their former units, as a prerequsite for joining the new force, seperated from the British Army for Political reasons.

I have checked today some of AEH's Service Records regarding his Discharge in England in 1918 and I have to report that on the document that describes his request to be Discharged  it clearly states that he was dismissed from the AIF in 1917. I'm not sure that I had clearly described this document and made the distrinction of Dismissed in 1917 and Discharged in 1918. The complicating issue in my mind has been the exact date match, 12 months apart, his birthday August 28th

Ian

[jds1949]

As I understand it the British Forces which made up the Elope and Syren Forces to Northern Russia were regular Army units and no different in their modus operandi to any other British Expeditionary Force. The majority of men would have had no choice about where they were sent, whether France, Flanders, Italian Front, Palestine, etc. etc. There was also an American contingent alongside the British and there for the same reason - to prevent the Germans exploiting the chaotic situation in Russia following the Revolution and the Peace of Brest-Litovsk. I presume that the Australian presence was there for the same reason.

jds1949