A rare Second War ‘Burma operations’ C.B.E., inter-War ‘Waziristan operations’ D.S.O., Great...

A rare Second War ‘Burma operations’ C.B.E., inter-War ‘Waziristan operations’ D.S.O., Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of thirteen awarded to Brigadier L. A, Harris, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was twice wounded during the Great War on the Western Front, and later saw extensive service on the North West Frontier of India

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with section of neck riband for display purposes; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated 1938, with integral top riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. L. A. Harris. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. L. A. Harris.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1921-24, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. L. A. Harris. R.G.A.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major L. A. Harris. D.S.O. M.C. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Pakistan Independence Medal 1947, unnamed as issued, all mounted for display, contact marks to the Great War awards therefore these nearly very fine; the rest better (13) £5,000-£7,000

Provenance
Glendining’s, September 1991.

Footnote
C.B.E. London Gazette 15 November 1945:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘Brigadier Harris has been Corps Commander, Royal Artillery since January 1944. During the campaign January to June 1944 he worked tirelessly and fearlessly to get the best out of his corps artillery and to help the divisions. He was always right forward seeing problems for himself and spent long periods during the battle in the forward brigade positions. His advice was invariably sound and much of the success of counter-battery and defensive fire was due to his drive and inspiration. During the campaign of September 1944 to date he has again shown outstanding qualities of initiative and has overcome incredible difficulties in getting corps artillery forward in every type of craft to support numerous landings in mangrove swamps. His gallant and distinguished service over these two campaigns deserve recognition by the award of the C.B.E.’

D.S.O. London Gazette 21 December 1937:
‘For distinguished service rendered in the field in connection with operations in Waziristan during the period 17 January to 15 September 1937.’

M.C. London Gazette 17 December 1917; citation published 23 April 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During two attacks he went under shell and machine gun fire to the front line and brought back much valuable information.’

Lawrence Anstie Harris was born on 13 December 1896 and was educated at Tonbridge School and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 28 July 1915, and served with the 14th Corps Heavy Artillery during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 September 1915. Promoted Lieutenant on 1 July 1917, he was twice wounded during the Great War, near Montauban in August 1916, and again at Mazingarbe in June 1918, and for his services he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 4 January 1917) and awarded the Military Cross.

Harris spent most of the inter-War years on the North West Frontier of India, and was promoted Captain on 14 May 1925; and Major on 1 August 1936. For his services in the inter-War years he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 18 February 1938), and as Major Commanding the 15 (Jhelum) Mountain Battery, 25 Indian Mountain Brigade, was awarded the D.S.O. ‘for his outstanding command ability during the Waziristan campaign’ (letter from Major-General Peter Glover, who served in the Battery under Harris, refers).

Harris served throughout the Second World War in India and Burma, ultimately as Corps Commander, Royal Artillery, 15th Indian Corps, from 1944, for which services he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He was promoted Colonel on 1 January 1945, and his final appointment was as Director of Artillery, Pakistan, 1947-48. He retired with the honorary rank of Brigadier on 3 June 1948, after 33 years’ continuous service, and in retirement wrote the chapters ‘The Arakan (Artillery in the Arakan)’ and ‘Gunners in India 1939-45’ in ‘The Royal Artillery Commemoration Book 1939-45’. He died in Droxford, Hampshire, on 19 January 1970.

Note: The M.I.D. emblems on the recipient’s India General Service Medal 1908-35, and on his War Medal 1939-45, are both unconfirmed.

Sold with two photographic images of the recipient (one as a young officer in the Great War, the other as a Brigadier post-Second World War), and extensive research, including two original letters from officers who served with Harris in India in the late 1930s.