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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 325

'About 1330 the blast from Spartak's forward gun, trained too far aft, knocked down the charthouse, scattered and tore the charts, damaged the bridge, and concussed the helmsman, so that the ship's position could not be determined. Ten minutes later it was realised from her wash that the Spartak was in shallow water. Course was altered too late; at about 1340 she stranded on Divel Shoal, losing her screws. The enemy ships were then about 3 miles from the Spartak which ceased fire and struck her ensign. Closing to five cables the British ships stopped engines, lowered boats, and sent a boarding party across. The Spartak was then towed into Reval.'

The capture of the destroyer Spartak on 26 December 1919, as described in Red Waters

A rare 'Riga Operations 1919' D.S.O. group of six awarded to Commander J. Harrison, Royal Navy, a Jutland Veteran who commanded Vortigern in the Baltic Sea and was credited with the capture of the destroyer Avtroil

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (Lieut. J. Harrison, R.N., H.M.S. Philomel); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-14 (Lieut. J. Harrison, R.N., H.M.S. Philomel); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Comr. J. Harrison, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr. J. Harrison, R.N.), very fine (6)

D.S.O. London Gazette 8 March 1920. The original recommendation states:

‘For services in H.M.S. Vortigern in operations at Riga, 24 October to 23 November 1919. This officer is recommended for his great assistance generally and for his zeal and enthusiasm in carrying out any duties, detached or otherwise, that he was called upon to perform.’

Julian Harrison was born in Newcastle in 15 October 1886 and was posted as a Naval Cadet to H.M.S Britannia on 15 May 1901. Promoted Midshipman on 8 November 1902 with Good Hope and later Donegal he was finally commissioned Sub-Lieutenant at the shore establishment Drake on 7 May 1907. Further advanced Lieutenant here that same year on 7 November, his record holds a note from the Admiralty that he was responsible for the loss of a Whaler whilst on watch and find the sum of £10, the first of many such notes. Harrison was posted to the cruiser H.M.S. Philomel on 27 July 1909 and served with her during operations off Somaliland (Medal & clasp) and later against gun runners in the Persian Gulf (Medal & clasp).

After a short period in command of Hecla he was awarded his first real command, H.M.S. Sprightly on 1 June 1912. It was not long before he had another collision against his name, having struck a Dredger on 27 August 1913. Harrison was posted to the battleship H.M.S. Monarch on 7 April 1914 and once again came in for reprimand as the result of a 'fatal accident' which killed three men and injured three others. Promoted Lieutenant-Commander on 15 August 1915 he was posted to the destroyer Itchen on 24 October. This vessel was part of the 9th Flotilla, running anti-submarine and counter-mine patrols around the Firth of Forth.

Remaining with her for the rest of the year Harrison was removed to another destroyer - H.M.S. Martial - on 5 March 1916. With this vessel he was present at Jutland, where Martial formed 11th Destroyer Flotilla, tasked with escorting the 4th Battle Squadron. This unit was unable to mount an attack against the German line when the opportunity presented itself due to the caution of Vice-Admiral Jerram. They did however have an encounter with the German fleet while withdrawing, running into a group of Light Cruisers in the low light of the evening. Castor came in for a heavy fire while the rest of the Flotilla let off a couple of torpedoes.

Harrison's final wartime appointment was the destroyer Vortigern in January 1918. This vessel was posted to the Baltic as part of Operation Red Trek in October 1919, under the command of Admiral Alexander-Sinclair. Whilst generally fated for his performance in the months that followed Harrison's finest achievement was certainly the capture of the destroyer Avtroil. Following the capture of Spartak on 26 December - in which she had played a role - Vortigern was sent to patrol the entrance to the Gulf of Finland.

Here - as the Avtroil attempted to avoid the net of British ships slowly closing about her - they lay in wait. Their quarry slowly gained pace, preparing to make a run for Kronstad but the destroyers sprang the trap and opened fire. Whether by luck or fine gunnery, Avtroil's topmast was brought down in the opening salvo, and after about twenty minutes of fighting a demoralised crew surrendered. Vortigern swiftly got a prize crew aboard her, a fine catch to cap off two productive days.

Harrison was awarded his D.S.O. in an investiture at Buckingham Palace in November 1920. Posted to the gunboat Teal, China Station on 20 January 1921. Here he was commended by the French Government for assistance rendered during the grounding of the French gunboat Doudart de Lagree. The official correspondence stating:

'But in particular I desire to express our thanks to Lieut. Commander Julian Harrison, Commanding Officer of H.M.S. "TEAL", who saved "Doudart de Lagree" from certain loss. At the time when she floated off the gunboat was swiftly carried down river by the current to the entrance of the Mitan Gorge. Manoeuvring with the greatest skill, which held the admiration of the French seamen, and partaking without hesitation of all their dangers, Lieut Comdr. J. Harrison succeeding [SIC] in taking "Doudart de Lagree" in tow.

Promoted Commander on 4 October 1926 he was placed on the retired list at his own request two days later. Harrison took up a civilian appointment as Marine Officer in the Railway Department, Tanganyika. He died in May 1937; sold with a quantity of original correspondence regarding the Teal incident as well as copied research comprising service records, A list of the activities of H.M.S. Philomel in the Persian Gulf, medal rolls and Navy lists and well as recommendations and citations relating to the Baltic and extracts from Red Waters and The Times.

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Sold for
£2,300

Starting price
£1700