Help: Court Martialled & Missing in UK, Capt: Albert Edward Harrison AIF

[Craven-Harrison]

It's 93 years since AIF Captain Albert Edward Harrison disappeared in England after being Court Martialled in Tidworth England by the Australian Army in 1917.

He was the Commanding Officer of the AIF Hardening and Drafting Camp at Perham Downs. Following his dismissal he joined the British Regular Forces, confirmation of his service through records or his eventual fate remain a mystery. Perhaps intentionally?

One fact is certain, he never returned to Australia and some of his AIF Military history has mysteriously disappeared from the archives.

After significant research in both Australia and the UK he remains an enigma, It's possible that he changed his name to avoid the inquision and search. Perhaps he was killed in action and buried as an unknown soldier or perhaps under an assumed name, He joined the Regular British Army as a T-2/Lt.

If the name or story jogs a memory, I would be really happy to hear from anybody with an idea,  a lead, or a possible connection

Many Thanks

Ian     

[barryd]

Was he known to have ever married? A marriage would help the search. If so what was his wife's name?

[Craven-Harrison]

G'day Barry,

yes! he did have an Australian wife and four children, but never returned to them after his discharge from the AIF in England. His Australian wife Nora , the Aus PM's office and the NSW Premier were all after him to return to Australia and were unable to do so. He failed to meet his transport ship back to Australia.

 In response to his wife's many requests for information regarding his disappearance,  a "Form Of Commission" was sent from the AIF in England,  describing that he had joined the British Regular Forces, this was received in 1920 nothing was ever heard from him again.

It was thought that he might have had a love interest in London and this could have led to his demise and subsequent disappearance.

I am unable to determine his fate or movements after the receipt of the info from a well meaning AIF officer in London in 1920

Where to from here?

Ian

[barryd]

A found an interesting divorce in 1919 from English/Welsh Court records in the National Archives. An Albert Edward Harrison divorced his wife Florence Gladys [Midlane?]. They probably married in the Norwich (England) area before WWI. My guess is that your Albert Edward did not divorce because that would mean his wife in Australia would have to be contacted. Plus of course in those days it would have been his wife in Australia who would have had to start off the divorce for his desertion. Did the wife ever have him declared dead?

I found no evidence that he joined the British Army as an officer as that would have been pulished in the London Gazette. Unless he had a new or modified name.

[KarenM]

Hi Ian,

Welcome to Rootschat!

What year was Albert born?

Karen

[Craven-Harrison]

Hi Barry,

Albert arrived in Egypt in 1915 where he was the Transport officer for the 19th Battalion AIF, supporting and training others during the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey.

He arrived in England during 1916,  I'm pretty sure that any personal liaison would have occurred during 1916 or 1917 while he was convalescing at a London hospital following sickness and injury received in combat.

I'm thinking that Florence and Albert are another two Harrison's in trouble with matrimonial matters and not AEH ex AIF

I don't believe that his wife Nora ever sought a divorce.  I agree with you that for Albert to persue a divorce would have revealed his location and potentially his new identity (if he had one), perhaps, better to start a new life?! He was never declared dead in Australia.

The Gazette does mention him as being dismissed from the service:

War Office,
29th September, 1917.
REGULAR FORCES.
OVERSEA CONTINGENTS.
AUSTRALIA.
INFANTRY.
Capt. A. E. Harrison is dismissed the
Service by sentence of a General Court-
Martial. 28 Aug. 1917.

There are several other 2/Lt and T-2/Lt A Harrison's occurring in the Gazette and these are possabilities I guess. It is definite that he was commissioned as a Temporary T-2/Lt in the British Regular Forces. And I have often thought that maybe this description is really telling us that he joined the permanent army and his records may not be with the WW1 British conscrip-tees or volunteers who ceased being in the Military when the War finished.

The correspondence from the AIF describing Albert as being Commissioned in the UK Army was an official document and is present in his AIF records.

I've always believed that he couldn't get a Commission unless he used his correct name and Commission documents, so, as you suggest we should see his Commission in the Gazette, but, men were scarce let alone Officers. Perhaps he might have made himself an Alfred Ernest Harrison or another one of a dozen permutations and I'm thinking that he was obviously pretty good at telling a fib or two!

So, I agree "a new or modified name" is quite on the cards, but how do I decide what it might be without an obvious lead or clue???

[Craven-Harrison]

Hi Karen,

thanks for the welcome, I should have done it years ago!

Albert was born in 1879 in Richmond Victoria Australia,  the youngest surviving son of William and Kate Harrison, one of 18 children, He was my great uncle.

When he married Nora Blamey he moved his age up by three years to 1876,  I'm guessing to appear to be older as Nora was older than him by a similar age.

Interestingly, he made the same calculated age adjustment when he joined the Military and then amazingly there were further permutations when he was being court martialled.

I guess the old adage "if you're going to lie you need a good memory" is relevant with this fellow.

 

[Craven-Harrison]

Some additional info regarding the London Gazette entries, obviously some can't possibly be the right person given the conflicting dates, but necessary for tracking purposes There are some duplications and possible alternate names that could have been used as aliases. There are numerous spelling mistakes due to nature of the OCR transcription.  I believe I have some more and I'm searching for them. They are not in any logical sequence or date order yet!! I've broken the list into three given the size restrictions

Any ideas how this information could be used or compared or checked, against other documents, perhaps Officers records or MIC's etc??

10954 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 13 NOVEMBER, 1916.
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison, D.S.O., from
N. Lan. R.

2332 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 26 FEBRUARY, 19202nd Vol. Bn., The Notts, de Derby. Regt.—
Temp. Capt. & 2nd in Command A. Harrison
relinquishes1 his: commission, 13th Nov.
1919, .and'is granted the hon. rank of Ca.pt.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 16 MARCH, 1918. 3363
W. Bid. B.
Temp. Capt. A. P. Harrison, M.C., from
a Serv. Bn., to be temp. Capt. 31 Jan.
1918, with seniority 29 June 1915.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 16 MAKCH, 1918. 3363
N. Lan. E.
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison, D.S.O., to
be temp. Lt. 1 July 1917.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 29 APRIL, 1921. 3511
INFANTRY.
E. Scats.
7th (D.F.) Bn.—
To be temp. Capts. : —
9 Apr. 1921.
T. D. Wilson.
J. N. Shaw.
A. Harrison

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 20 JUNE, 1921. 4901 INFANTRY.
R. Scots.
7th (D.F.) Bn.—
The undermemtioned relinquish their
commissions from the dates stated: —
Temp. Capt. A. Harrison. 22 Apr. 1921.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 7 MAY, 1919. 5757
24th Bn., London Regt.—
Capt. A. Harrison, Mi.C'., to be <a-ctg.
Miaj. whilst empld. as 2nd in Command.
25th Feb. 1919.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 4 JULY, 1917. 6651
The undermentioned to be temp. Lts.: —
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison relinquishes
his commn. on account of ill-health. 5th
July 1917.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 13 OCTOBER, 1921. 8061
Loyal E.
Temp.. Lt. A. Harrison, DS.O., and is
Granted 'the-rank of Cap't.


9314 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 SEPTEMBER, 1916.
W. York. E.
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison relinquishes
his commission on account of'ill-health. 24
Sept. 1916.


11238 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 20 NOVEMBER, 1916,
The undermentioned to be acting Capts.
whilst comdg. a Trench Mortar Batt.: —
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison, D.S.O. 6th
July 1916.


11642 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 10 NOVEMBER, 1917-
N. Lan. E.
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison; from Gen_
List, to be temp. 2nd Lt. (attd.). 29 Sept.
1917, with seniority 17 Sept. 1914.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 6 DECEMBEE, 1916. 11927
INFANTRY.
Royal Scots.—
2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) A. Harrison to be
Lt. (temp. Capt.). 29th June 1915.

12348 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 19 DECEMBER, 1916,
INFANTRY.
Royal Scots.—
Lt. (temp. Capt.) A. Harrison relinquishes
the temp, rank of Capt., with precedence
as from 29th June 1915, and is
seconded for duty with the M.G.C. 4th
Dec. 1916.

13224 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 29 OCTOBER, 1919
ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY
The under mentioned 2nd Lte. to be
Lts.: — A. Harrison. 25th Aug. 1919.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 9 JANUARY, 1922. 271
INFANTRY.
24:th Bn., Lond. R. — Mar). A. Harrison, M.C.
(late of this unit), to foe Capt., next below
Capt. H. J. Sianders, D..S.0., M.C., and
relinquishes the rank of Maj. 22nd Dec.
19.2,1.

9314 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 SEPTEMBER, 1916.
War Office,
23rd September, 1916.
REGULAR FORCES W. York. E.
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison relinquishes
his commission on account of' ill-health. 24
Sept. 1916.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 10 JANUARY, 1922. 349
War Office,
10th January, 1922.
TERRITORIAL ARMY. INFANTRY.
7th Bn., R. Sco\ts.-, Capt. A. Harrison resigns
5iis commn., llth Jan. 1922, and retains the
rank of Capt.


24thBn  Lon Reg. —'Capt. A. Harrison, M'.C.,
to have precedence .as from 1st June 1916,
next below 'C'apt. & Bt. Maj. C'. J. Saunders,
M.C.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 24 MARCH, 1922. 2499
INFANTRY.
7th Bn., B. Scots.—Capt. A. Harrison resigns
his commn., llth Jan. 1922, and is granted
the rank 'of Maj. (Substituted for that
which appeared in the Gazette'of 10th Jan.
1922.)

3118 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 30 MARCH, 1917.
W.York R
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison relinquishes
his commission on account of ill-health, and
is granted the hon. rank of 2nd Lt. 24
Sept. 1916. (Substituted for notification in
Gaz. of 23 Sept. 1916.)


5346 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 10 MAY, 1920
INFANTRY.
Lt. A. Harrison, M.C., retires, receiving
a gratuity, llth May 1920.

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 JULY, 1922. 5437
INDIAN ARMY RESERVE OF
OFFIOEBiS
Tlhe KING has approved the retirement of
the following officers u^deor the provisions1 of
the Royal Warrant dated 25th April 1922: —
INDIAN ARMY.
Lieutenants:—
A. Harrison. 12tih! June 1922.


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 MAY, 1919. 6215
Sea. Highrs. — Bt.
The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be
Lts. : —
E. Kent R.—A. Harrison, ivi.C. 28th Feb.
1919.

[Craven-Harrison]

The second section of London Gazette listings for possible Harrison Officers


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 28 JULY, 1918. 8575 The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be
Lts. : —
Suff. E.—A. Harrison, M.C. 19th June 1918.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 SEPTEMBER, 1917. 9551
INFANTRY.
Royal. Scots.—Lt. A. Harrison to be Capt.,
with precedence as from 1st June 1916, next
below Capt. T. G. Clark, and to remain
seconded, M.G.C. 29th July 1917.


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE.. 16 AUGUST, 1918. 9551 Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison relinquishes
his commn. on account of ill-health, and is
granted the hon. rank of 2nd Lt. 5tlh July
1917. (Substituted for the notification in
the Gazette of 4th July 1917.)


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 OCTOBER, 1916. 10269
London Regt.—
2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) A. Harrison to be
Lt. (temp. Capt.). 2nd Oct. 1916.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 3 NOVEMBER, 1917 11429
War Office,
3rd November, ]917
REGULAR FORCES,
The under mentioned Candidates nominated
for Commissions in the Regular Army
under paragraph 3 of Army Order 295 of
1916, as amended by Army Orders 167 and
293 of 1917 —
WITH SENIORITY AS STATED AGAINST THEIR NAMES
CAVALRY
To be 2nd Lts , and To relinquish, their
higher rank, where specified, and present
seniority on ceasing to do duty with their
present units —  Dns —Lt Henry Harrison 4th Sept 1917


11510 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 28 SEPTEMBER, 1918
War Office,
28th September, 1918.
REGULAR FORCES.
COMMANDS AND STAFF
PERSONAL STAFF
The under mentioned appts. are made : —
Lt. (temp. Capt.) R. P. Harrison, Gen. List. 9th Aug. 1918


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 4 OCTOBER, 1919 12391
Lt. R. Harrison relinquishes his commission
on. ceasing to be employed., 29tfli Aug.
1919, and retains the rank of Lt.

 

SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER, 1914.
War Office,
19th September, 1914.
REGULAR FORCES.
Staff Captains—
Major A. E. Harrison, Reserve of Officers. Dated 24th August, 1914.

6414 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 28 JUNE, 1916.
ATTACHED TO HD.-QR. UNITS.
vice Maj. A. E. Harrison, Res. of Off. 8th May 1916.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 20 SEPTEMBER, 1917. 9741
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison, D.S.O. 29th July 1917.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 29 SEPTEMBER, 1917. 10121
War Office,
29th September, 1917.
REGULAR FORCES.
OVERSEA CONTINGENTS.
AUSTRALIA.
INFANTRY.
Capt. A. E. Harrison is dismissed the
Service by sentence of a General Court- Martial. 28 Aug. 1917.

11642 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 10 NOVEMBER, 1917-
War Office,
10th November, 1917.
REGULAR FORCES,
INFANTRY.
N. Lan. E.
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison; from Gen_
List, to be temp. 2nd Lt. (attd.). 29 Sept.
1917, with seniority 17 Sept. 1914.

12880 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 10 DECEMBER, 1917.
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison, D.S.O., relinquishes
the actg. rank of Capt. on ceasing
to comd. a Trench Mortar Batt. 14th July
1917. (Substituted for the notification in
the Gazette of 20th Sept. 1917.)

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 16 MARCH, 1918. 3363
War Office,
16th March, 1918.
REGULAR FORCES. INFANTRY (ATTD.).
N. Lan. E.
Temp. 2nd Lt. A. Harrison, D.S.O., to be temp. Lt. 1 July 1917.