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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 66

An outstanding campaign group of six awarded to Staff Sergeant C. K. Harrison, 22nd Special Air Service, who served no less than 14 years with the Regiment, he commanded 17 Troop, ‘D’ Squadron at the Battle of Jebal Akhdar (Green Mountain) in Oman, December 1958

General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, Arabian Peninsula, rod between clasps (22829420 Tpr. C. K. Harrison. S.A.S.), number partially officially corrected; General Service 1962-2007, 2 clasps, Borneo, South Arabia, rod between clasps (22829420 S. Sgt. C. K. Harrison. SAS.); Oman, Sultanate, Jebal Akhdar Campaign Medal 1958-59, bronze; General Service, 1 clasp, Dhofar, gilt; As Samood Medal, gilt, these all unnamed as issued; Malaysia, Pingat Jasa Malaysia, silvered, good very fine (6)

Clifford Kenneth Harrison - or Ken to his friends and comrades - was born on the Isle of Man on 19 July 1934, and attested for the Lancastrian Brigade at Liverpool on 31 October 1952. He was posted to ‘D’ Squadron, 22 Special Air Service Regiment in January 1954, and as a trained Deep Sea Diver was allocated to the Boat Troop. He saw active service with the S.A.S. in Malaya, where he spent two years fighting bandits in the Malayan jungle. Whilst there he led a patrol that discovered a lost tribe living deep in the heart of the tangled forests:

‘They were absolutely primitive, almost naked and had never seen any other people but their own before. To kill their meat they used blow pipes, which were not very effective.’ (newspaper cutting included with Lot refers).

Harrison saw subsequent service in the Middle East in 1958-59, fighting rebels against the Sultan of Oman on the Persian Gulf, and took part in the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain) operations as the Sergeant in command of 17 Troop, 27-28 December 1958. As he recounted:

‘I was in Malaya as a Corporal where we got the request to go straight to the Oman at very short notice. The Sergeant didn’t want to go and as there was not an officer for 17 Troop I was promoted Sergeant and commanded it. At the Jebal Akhdar operation we attacked on the south side of the mountain alongside 16 Troop, under the command of Captain Walker. When it was over our troop stayed on the top and 16 Troop went down. Eventually we all made it back down and when together in the mess I was taken to one side and told that 17 Troop were going back up again, and as the Troop Commander, it was my job to give the men the “good news”. I told the Officer that as he was the Officer he should tell the men, but in the end he persuaded me to do it.’ (hand written notes of a telephone conversation with the recipient refers).

For their gallantry during the attack on the Jebel Akhdar, Herbie Hawkins of 16 Troop was awarded the D.C.M., and ‘Scouser’ Cunningham, also of 16 Troop, the M.M. Harrison performed very similar actions, and it is possible that he too may have received some medallic recognition for his gallantry, had there been an officer present to witness and recommend him for an award.

Returning to the U.K., Harrison served as a P.S.I. and ran selection for 21 S.A.S. from 1961-62; he enjoyed the role whilst there were no active operations taking place, but was soon keen to return to the fray, and in August 1963 proceeded to the Far East for service in Borneo. Whilst there he ran the Jungle Warfare Training programme.

Harrison retired from the Army at his own request on 1 February 1969 with the following glowing Testimonial:

'Sgt Harrison has served with the Special Air Service for fourteen years with only one short break. During this time he rose to the position of SQMS.

Throughout, his reports have stressed his physical and mental toughness, his hard work, honesty and loyalty, and his ability to get the best out of his men, to think ahead, and to improvise. He leaves the Army of his own will and we shall be sorry to lose him.

He subsequently served as a Contract Ranger Officer in the Oman from January 1975 to May 1980. He was involved in various attacks during his time there, and received the Omani Victory Medal in 1978. Return to his native Isle of Man, Harrison ran a diving company for many years until finally retiring in 1998, living at Salalah House; sold together with copied Certificate of Service, various photographs of the recipient and copied documentation and research notes.

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Sold for
£12,000

Starting price
£3500