Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (12138 A. E. Harris, Ldg. Sea. “Bibiabat” Caspian 8 Aug. 1919) contact marks, nearly very fine, rare £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 22 January 1920. ‘For services in the Caspian Sea, 1919’.

Alfred Edwin Harris was born in Lambeth, London, on 11 November 1892. An Errand Boy by occupation, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in August 1908, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in April 1909. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in November 1910 and Able Seaman in October 1911 when on the Brilliant. During the war he served on the scout cruisers Boadicea, August 1915-November 1916, being present at the battle of Jutland. He then served on the scout cruiser Blanche, February-November 1917, being promoted to Leading Seaman in July 1917. In 1919 he was serving with British naval forces on the Caspian Sea.

Harris was one of just two ratings awarded the Naval M.S.M. for the action off Ashurada in North Persia. His ship, the Bibiabat, an ex-Tsarist vessel which had been converted into a seaplane carrier, assisted the similarly converted Orlionok in capturing the revolutionary gunboat Chasovay and two merchant vessels, Van and Ess. Some 300 prisoners were taken in addition to a number of barques and armaments. With copied service paper and other research.