Leonard Henry Harrison
Encyclopedia
Leonard Henry Harrison was awarded the George Cross
for "for acts of exceptional coolness and courage on several occasions" in defusing unexploded German bombs during World War II
. Having joined the RAF in 1922, he served as Civilian Armament Instructor at an Royal Air Force
armament training school in 1940 and was an authority on explosive fuse systems. He used this expertise to render many munitions safe, including a bomb with a previously unknown fuse which had lodged in the deck of a grain carrier which struggled into Immingham
Docks which he defused with Flt Lt John Dowland
. He also defused a device on a fishing boat in the Humber
. His award was published in the London Gazette
and was also covered by the Saturday News Chronicle
of January 4, 1941.
Born in Devonport, he was in the RAF for 12 years before entering the reserve.
In 1941, he was given a commission on probabation as an Acting Pilot Officer. Subsequently confirmed and made up to Flying Officer in May 1942. Flight Lieutenant followed in 1944.
He was part of a scheme to booby trap captured fuses and smuggle them into German ammunition stores so that bombs would exploded when being dropped, so destroying the enemy aircraft. The Germans discovered the scheme but were forced to destroy large numbers of fuses as a precaution. He served as honorary treasurer of the Victoria and George Cross Association.
Harrison had retired with the rank of Wing Commander
in 1949, but remained in civilian appointments with the Air Ministry until 1970. He died on 15 July 1989 leaving a son, Leonard Jnr and a daughter, Pat.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for "for acts of exceptional coolness and courage on several occasions" in defusing unexploded German bombs during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Having joined the RAF in 1922, he served as Civilian Armament Instructor at an Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
armament training school in 1940 and was an authority on explosive fuse systems. He used this expertise to render many munitions safe, including a bomb with a previously unknown fuse which had lodged in the deck of a grain carrier which struggled into Immingham
Immingham
Immingham is a town in North East Lincolnshire, located on the south bank of the Humber Estuary...
Docks which he defused with Flt Lt John Dowland
John Noel Dowland
Squadron Leader John Noel Dowland was awarded the George Cross, as was a civilian armanent instructor, Leonard Henry Harrison, for his gallantry in defusing a bomb which had fallen on the grain ship SS Kildare in Immingham docks on 11 February 1940. The bomb proved extremely difficult to defuse as...
. He also defused a device on a fishing boat in the Humber
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
. His award was published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
and was also covered by the Saturday News Chronicle
News Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
of January 4, 1941.
Born in Devonport, he was in the RAF for 12 years before entering the reserve.
In 1941, he was given a commission on probabation as an Acting Pilot Officer. Subsequently confirmed and made up to Flying Officer in May 1942. Flight Lieutenant followed in 1944.
He was part of a scheme to booby trap captured fuses and smuggle them into German ammunition stores so that bombs would exploded when being dropped, so destroying the enemy aircraft. The Germans discovered the scheme but were forced to destroy large numbers of fuses as a precaution. He served as honorary treasurer of the Victoria and George Cross Association.
Harrison had retired with the rank of Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in 1949, but remained in civilian appointments with the Air Ministry until 1970. He died on 15 July 1989 leaving a son, Leonard Jnr and a daughter, Pat.