Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry x186


A rare 1966 ‘Aden operations’ M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant B. G. Harrison, The Chestnut Troop, 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, for his gallantry during a night attack carried out by a force of at least 80 heavily armed dissidents on the Dhala Garrison, 28/29 March 1966. Regularly exposing himself to mortar and small-arms fire, Harrison led his 2 gun section fearlessly during the 8 hour action


Military Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (22850005 Sgt. B. G. Harrison. R.A.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (22850005 Sgt. B. G. Harrison. R.A.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, South Arabia (22850005 Sgt. B. G. Harrison. RHA.) mounted as originally worn, minor edge bruising, very fine (3)


£8,000-£10,000 M.M. London Gazette 26 August 1966:


‘On the night of 28/29 March 1966 a force of about eighty dissident tribesmen, armed with mortars, rockets, machine-guns and rifles, attacked the Federal Regular Army camp at Dhala. A section of The Chestnut Troop, 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, formed part of the garrison of the camp. The enemy firing was continuous for over two hours, during which time one Federal army soldier was killed and another wounded. The sangars in which the guns were deployed were hit constantly by bullets.


Throughout the action Sergeant Harrison was in control of the two guns, and was obliged to expose himself outside the protection of the sangar walls to check the accuracy of the laying of the guns and to exercise general control of the gun position. On many occasions, when the position was being swept by heavy and accurate small arms fire, he stood on top of the sangar walls to make certain that the guns were acting correctly on their orders from the Command Post.


Sergeant Harrison gave no thought for his own safety, and his devotion to duty under fire was an inspiration to all on the gun position. It was very largely due to his example of steadiness and courage, and to the thoroughness with which he performed his task that the speed and accuracy of the artillery response was so outstanding.


Remarks of Brigade Commander: I was present throughout the attack and strongly support the citation. The behaviour of Sergeant Harrison was in the highest British Army tradition of bravery and leadership.


Remarks of Divisional Commander: I consider that the conduct of this Sergeant in control of his Section under fire was exemplary and in the highest traditions of the Royal Regiment. It is most worthy of recognition.’


Brian Giles Harrison served with The Chestnut Troop, 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery in Aden. The 1st Regiment served in Aden from 1965-67, and was based at Little Aden Barracks opposite the Marine Commando Barracks. The Regiment consisted of 3 Batteries - Chestnut Troop, E Battery and B Battery, and were part of the Dhala Garrison. Harrison distinguished himself when Dhala Garrison came under heavy attack on the night of 28/29 March 1966. The following is given The Gunner, Vol. XLVIII No. 11, November 1966:


‘The Queen has approved the award of the Military Medal to Sergeant Brian Harrison of The Chestnut Troop, 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery. The award has been made as the result of Sgt. Harrison’s devotion to duty, regardless of his own safety, during a heavy attack on the Dhala Garrison on the night of the 28/29th March, 1966.


On this night a large scale attack was mounted by a force of about eighty dissidents against the town and garrison at Dhala. The attack lasted for over two hours, mortars, rocket launchers, machine guns and small arms fire were used, and a considerable amount of the enemy fire was directed into the area occupied by the guns of Alkmaar Section, The Chestnut Troop.


The Section stood-to at 21.30 hrs. and was in action continuously until 05.30 hrs., firing over 70 rounds per gun at no less than 20 separate targets.


For most of this time the Section was under well-directed enemy mortar and small-arms fire which was hitting the gun sangar walls and the command-post.


In order to check the bearing and elevation of the guns on the many different targets, most of them close to occupied villages, Sgt. Harrison was obliged to expose himself regularly to direct enemy fire outside the protection of the sangars.


The accuracy of the shooting throughout the action, and the high standard of drill on the guns, was due in great part to Sgt. Harrison’s devotion to duty regardless of his own safety.


Sgt. Harrison is 31 years old and comes from Rusham Road, Egham, Surrey.


He has been in The Chestnut Troop for five years, and before coming to Aden was with 1st Regiment, R.H.A., in Germany. He is a bachelor who enjoys a wide variety of outdoor activities including water-skiing, sailing, canoeing, climbing and skiing.’ 1 of 11 Military Medals awarded for operations in Aden 1964-67.


Sold with a copy of The Gunner, Vol. XLVIII No. 11, November 1966, in which appears an article on the recipient, with a photograph of him in uniform.


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220  |  Page 221  |  Page 222  |  Page 223  |  Page 224  |  Page 225  |  Page 226  |  Page 227  |  Page 228  |  Page 229  |  Page 230  |  Page 231  |  Page 232  |  Page 233  |  Page 234  |  Page 235  |  Page 236  |  Page 237  |  Page 238  |  Page 239  |  Page 240  |  Page 241  |  Page 242  |  Page 243  |  Page 244  |  Page 245  |  Page 246  |  Page 247  |  Page 248  |  Page 249  |  Page 250  |  Page 251  |  Page 252  |  Page 253  |  Page 254  |  Page 255  |  Page 256  |  Page 257  |  Page 258  |  Page 259  |  Page 260  |  Page 261  |  Page 262  |  Page 263  |  Page 264  |  Page 265  |  Page 266  |  Page 267  |  Page 268  |  Page 269  |  Page 270  |  Page 271  |  Page 272  |  Page 273  |  Page 274  |  Page 275  |  Page 276  |  Page 277  |  Page 278  |  Page 279  |  Page 280  |  Page 281  |  Page 282  |  Page 283  |  Page 284  |  Page 285  |  Page 286  |  Page 287  |  Page 288  |  Page 289  |  Page 290  |  Page 291  |  Page 292  |  Page 293  |  Page 294  |  Page 295  |  Page 296  |  Page 297  |  Page 298  |  Page 299  |  Page 300  |  Page 301  |  Page 302  |  Page 303  |  Page 304  |  Page 305  |  Page 306  |  Page 307  |  Page 308  |  Page 309  |  Page 310  |  Page 311  |  Page 312  |  Page 313  |  Page 314  |  Page 315  |  Page 316  |  Page 317  |  Page 318  |  Page 319  |  Page 320  |  Page 321  |  Page 322  |  Page 323  |  Page 324  |  Page 325  |  Page 326  |  Page 327  |  Page 328  |  Page 329  |  Page 330  |  Page 331  |  Page 332  |  Page 333  |  Page 334  |  Page 335  |  Page 336  |  Page 337  |  Page 338  |  Page 339  |  Page 340  |  Page 341  |  Page 342  |  Page 343  |  Page 344  |  Page 345  |  Page 346  |  Page 347  |  Page 348  |  Page 349  |  Page 350  |  Page 351  |  Page 352  |  Page 353  |  Page 354  |  Page 355  |  Page 356  |  Page 357  |  Page 358  |  Page 359  |  Page 360  |  Page 361  |  Page 362  |  Page 363  |  Page 364  |  Page 365  |  Page 366  |  Page 367  |  Page 368  |  Page 369  |  Page 370  |  Page 371  |  Page 372  |  Page 373  |  Page 374  |  Page 375  |  Page 376  |  Page 377  |  Page 378  |  Page 379  |  Page 380  |  Page 381  |  Page 382  |  Page 383  |  Page 384  |  Page 385  |  Page 386  |  Page 387  |  Page 388  |  Page 389  |  Page 390  |  Page 391  |  Page 392  |  Page 393  |  Page 394  |  Page 395  |  Page 396  |  Page 397  |  Page 398  |  Page 399  |  Page 400  |  Page 401  |  Page 402  |  Page 403  |  Page 404  |  Page 405  |  Page 406  |  Page 407  |  Page 408  |  Page 409  |  Page 410  |  Page 411  |  Page 412  |  Page 413  |  Page 414  |  Page 415  |  Page 416  |  Page 417  |  Page 418  |  Page 419