Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Great War 1918 ‘Tanks’ M.C. group of four awarded to Major J. A. H. Harrowing, Dorset Regiment, attached Tank Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Lieut: J. Harrowing. Dorset Regt. attd. Tank Corps.’; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. Harrowing.); Defence Medal, nearly very fine (4) £2,000-£2,400

M.C. London Gazette 7 November 1918: Second Lieutenant James Harrowing, Dorset R., attd. Tank Corps
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When carrying up mortars and bombs to the final objective he passed a Tank broken down. In spite of enemy sniping and shelling, he transferred the mortars and bombs from the broken-down Tank to a small cart, which he towed to the dumping point. Later he went forward with this Tank and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. In an encounter with an anti-Tank gun he completely demoralised the crew, who at once bolted.’

James Harrowing was born in Wooburn Green, Berkshire, and attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment, being listed as a Private in the Infantry in the 1901 Census (giving an implied year of birth of 1882), and a Sergeant in the Royal Berkshire Regiment in the 1911 Census (giving an implied year of birth of 1883). He served with the 1st and 6th Battalions during the Great War as an Acting Warrant Officer Class I. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Dorset Regiment on 2 June 1917, he was posted on attachment to the Tank Corps on 3 January 1918, and for his gallantry during the final year of the War was awarded the Military Cross. Advanced Lieutenant, he retired on retired pay on 17 September 1919 and ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers, having attained the age limit of liability to recall, on 1 December 1932. In the 1939 Register he is listed as a Special Constable, and he gives his date of birth as 29 January 1885. He subsequently served with the Cadet Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and retired on 31 December 1950, in his 65th year. He died in Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, in March 1953.

Sold together with a Pewter Presentation Tankard, inscribed ‘2nd (Bucks) Cadet Bn., Oxford & Buckinghamshire Lt. Inf. Presented to Major J. A. H. Harrowing M.C. on the occasion of his retirement 31st. Dec. 1950 from the Officers of B. D. & E. Companies for Loyal & Devoted Service’; a wooden model of a tank; a post-Second War portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform, his riband bar also including the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal; and a small silver cricket medal, the reverse engraved ‘Bastick Cup 1894. J. Harrowing. Wooburn Green.’