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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 474

(x) An impressive Great War Ace's D.F.C. & Bar, Belgian Croix de Guerre group of five awarded to Major T. S. Harrison, Royal Flying Corps and latterly South African Air Force

Harrison was a famed Ace who notched up no less than 22 aerial victories, making him the fourth highest scoring South African Ace

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar; Africa Star; War and Africa Service Medals 1939-45, these last three officially impressed '240113 T. S. Harrison'; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, good very fine (5)

Acquired in this state by the father of the vendor in South Africa around half a century ago.

D.F.C. London Gazette 21 September 1918:

'When on wireless interception duty this officer engaged three enemy machines, shooting down one in flames. He was then attacked by three scouts and a two-seater; the latter he shot down. During the last few weeks he has further accounted for three hostile aeroplanes and a balloon, displaying vigour and gallantry in attack.'

Second Award Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 3 December 1918:

'Bold in attack, skilful in manoeuvre, this officer never hesitates to engage the enemy, however superior in numbers. On October 2nd he, with three other machines, took part in an engagement with eight Fokkers; four of these were destroyed, Lieut. Harrison accounting for one. On another occasion he, in company with four others, engaged a large formation of Fokkers; three of these were destroyed, one by this officer. In all he has destroyed twenty enemy machines.'

Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 July 1919.

Thomas Sinclair Harrison was born on 8 January 1898 at King William's Town, Eastern Cape. Upon the outbreak of the Great War he saw active service with the Artillery in German East Africa and joined the Royal Flying Corps in April 1917, being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 12 August 1917. Made Flying Officer on 12 March 1918, he joined No. 29 Squadron in May 1918 and notched up his first 'kill' on 27 June, taking down a Halberstadt C (DESF) east of Estaires. It was in short order that he gained his status as an Ace, bringing it up just a few weeks later on 8 July, taking down a LVG C (OOC) near Neuf Berquin. His tenth victory was scored by 13 August and on 16 August he scored two more in the space of fifteen minutes. He had found a favourite aircraft 'E5947', which had proven a winning combination, bringing up his thirteenth victory - and seventh in that aircraft - on 6 September. A comrade then went and ruined it with a hard landing.

This minor annoyance certainly didn't stop Harrison and he had his twentieth 'kill' at 1215hrs on 1 November, with a Hannover C (OOC) over Tournai. He closed his account, with his twenty-second victory on the penultimate day of the Great War, 10 November 1918, in shooting down a Fokker D.VII (DES) over Moorleghen. He would be the fourth-highest scoring South African of the Great War and had the D.F.C. and Bar and a Belgian Croix de Guerre as a result.

Having left the service, he returned to the fold during the Second World War and served as an Intelligence Officer at East Africa Air HQ during 1941.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£3,000

Starting price
£1200