Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Union of South Africa, reverse engraved, ‘Lt. J. B. Harrison, T.S.C.’, polished, very fine £100-£140

Provenance: J. Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2009.

John Beaumont Harrison served in the 11th Mounted Rifles, July 1913 - July 1916 and was attached to the 12th Mounted Rifles in September 1914. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, on probation in the 2nd Life Guards, Special Reserve of Officers, on 16 November 1916. On 10 May 1918 he was appointed Second Lieutenant with the Guards Machine Gun Regiment and was advanced to Lieutenant on 16 May 1918. Harrison ceased to be employed with the Guards Machine Gun Regiment in February 1919, and he relinquished his commission in the 2nd Life Guards on 1 April 1920, whilst retaining his rank. Returning to South Africa, he was appointed Lieutenant in the Union Defence Forces. In April 1942 he attested for full time service with the Technical Service Corps. From October 1944 onwards he served as an Acting Captain, and spent some time as an Inspector of Live Ammunition at the Lenz Factory. He was demobilised in 1949 and was awarded the War and Africa Service Medals. For his long service, Harrison was also awarded the Efficiency Decoration (Union of South Africa), published in the Government Gazette of 26 May 1950. Sold with extensive copied research.