Medals to the Liverpool Regiment from the Collection of Hal Giblin

Three: Captain F. Harrison, 10th (Scottish) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment

1914 Star (Capt., L’pool. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) good very fine or better (3) £150-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Liverpool Regiment from the Collection of Hal Giblin.

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Fred Harrison was gazetted Captain 22 August 1914 and formed one of the original contingent who travelled to France aboard the S.S. Maidan in November 1914. He kept his health until the beginning of February 1915 when he suffered from fever and laryngitis (probably influenza). This was followed by irregularity of the action of the heart which was pronounced after exertion, he also suffered from sleeplessness and other neurasthenic symptoms. He left his unit on 25 March 1915 and was evacuated to the U.K. four days later, having been diagnosed as suffering from neurasthenia. At this time he gave his address as Eaton Bank, Hornby Lane, Wavertree.

He was on sick leave 23 April 1915 to 22 June 1915 and was treated at a Special Hospital at 10 Palace Green, London. In September 1915 he was described as nervous and unable to stand for long periods as well as being unable to sleep well and as not having improved much since returning from France. On 1 April 1916 he was pronounced as permanently unfit for General service and that he should be struck off the strength of the 1st line unit.

The following is an extract from The Liverpool Scottish 1900-1919, by A. M. McGilchrist who describes the preparations when the battalion was first mobilised in 1914:

‘Captain Harrison, the Transport Officer, was engaged meantime in collecting horses for his section. He succeeded in getting together a magnificent lot of animals, too magnificent as it turned out, for they attracted the attention of a Regular Battalion, billeted in St. George's Hall and feverishly making ready for service overseas, and to Captain Harrison's unutterable disgust most of his beautiful steeds were commandeered and he had to start afresh.’