GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
801
The exceptional Great War Q-ship operations D.S.C. and Bar group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Commander W. S.
Harrison, Royal Naval Reserve, Navigating Officer of “The splendid Penshurst”
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, hallmarks for London 1916; 1914-15 STAR (Lieut. W. S.
Harrison, R.N.R.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lieut. W. S. Harrison, R.N.R.); 1939-45 STAR; ATLANTIC
STAR; WAR MEDAL 1939-45, these last three privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Cmd. W. S. Harrison, D.S.C., R.N.’, generally good
very fine or better (7) £8000-10000
“Penshurst’s” officers - Harrison on the right
Ex Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris collection (Part I), Dix Noonan Webb, 1 October 1996 (Lot 646).
D.S.C. London Gazette 23 May 1917: ‘Honours for miscellaneous services.’
His service record states: ‘Was in a ship which engaged enemy submarines on 20 and 22 February, and 8 March 1917. His behaviour
was admirable throughout. Their Lordships appreciation expressed of the way in which he carried out his duty.’
Bar to D.S.C. London Gazette 29 August 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’
His service record states: ‘Displayed excellent spirit and perfect discipline, and rendered the most valuable assistance to his C.O. on the
occasion of an action with an enemy submarine on 2 July 1917.’
Mention in despatches London Gazette 2 November 1917: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’
His service record states: ‘For the efficient way in which he carried out his duties both during the action with an enemy submarine on
19 August 1917, and afterwards in bringing the ship safely into harbour in her waterlogged condition.’
William Strickland Harrison joined the Royal Navy Reserve as a Temporary Sub. Lieutenant in February 1915, when he was appointed
to the armed merchant cruiser H.M.S. Alsatian, flying the flag of Rear Admiral de Chair, C.B., M.V.O.
Having previously served as an officer in the Mercantile Marine, he quickly gained advancement to Temporary Acting Lieutenant in
June 1915, at which stage he volunteered for ‘special service’, the beginning of a remarkable wartime career in “Mystery Ships”, not
least the period of his employment in one of the most celebrated Q-ships of the War, “The splendid Penshurst”. In fact he was present
in all of her actions from late 1916 until her loss in December 1917, originally under the command of Captain Francis Grenfell, R.N.,
and latterly Lieutenant Cedric Naylor, R.N.R. - the latter, who had been Grenfell’s “Jimmy the One”, became the most decorated Naval
Officer of the Great War, winning three D.S.Os and two D.S.Cs, the whole services in Penshurst.
Harrison first went into action in the Penshurst in November 1916, when she sank the UB-19 on the 30th. The latter had been spotted
by a seaplane lying off Alderney, Grenfell putting off the “panic party” and then engaging the enemy submarine from 250 yards - 13 of
UB-19’s crew were rescued.
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