Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant H. A. B. Harington, 3rd Battalion, attached 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, who was severely wounded at Ypres, 31 October 1914, and died of his wounds, 9 December 1914

1914 Star (Lieut. H. A. B. Harington. Hamps: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. H. A. B. Harington) mounted for wear, good very fine (3) £300-£400

Herbert Andrzej Biernacki Harington resided in Newport, Isle of Wight, and was ‘the only son of the late Herbert Septimus Harington, Director-General of Railway Construction in India, and a grandson of the late Colonel Thomas Lowth Harington, 5th Light Cavalry, who had the medals for Cabul, Sobraon, Gujerat, and Chillianwallah, where he was wounded.

Lieutenant Harington was born at Doonga Gali, Murree Hills, Punjab, India, on the 3rd August, 1888. He inherited his father’s ability as a mathematician. He also, even as a boy, showed great mechanical and scientific talent, and studied practical chemistry and electricity. After completing his education, which was carried out privately, because he was rather delicate - though eventually attaining over six feet in height, and being broad in proportion - he served on the Indian State Railways with his father for three years, and also surveyed the Shan States Railway in Burma and the Kyber Pass.

He joined the 3rd Battalion Hampshire Regiment in September, 1911, being promoted Lieutenant in June, 1913. He was attached to the 1st Battalion for active service, and went to the front in autumn of 1914 [29 September 1914]. He was in several small engagements, and was finally wounded at Ypres, between Ypres and Armentières, on 31st October. Writing home, he made light of his wound, but he died on the 9th November [sic], 1914, at Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth.

He was wounded in the left hip in the morning, and having been taken out of the trench it is reported that he struggled back to rally his men, and even after being put on the stretcher tried to get back, saying his duty was with his men.

Lieutenant Harington was a good rider and polo player, and keen on all sports, and when with the 1st Battalion of his regiment at Aldershot helped to train it for the cross-country race, which it won. He was a great favourite in Simla when he was in India.’ (The Bond of Sacrifice Vol. I refers)

Lieutenant Harington died of wounds, 9 December 1914, and is buried in Portsdown (Christ Chuch) Military Cemetery, Hampshire.