THE EXCEPTIONAL WW2 1940 ‘WESTERN DESERT’ M.C. GROUP TO A MAJOR, 7TH ROYAL TANK REGIMENT. M.I.D. FOR SERVICES ON THE NORTH WEST FRONTIER IN 1937, HE WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THE M.C. FOR HIS GALLANTRY IN MATILDA TANKS DURING THE BATTLE OF FRANCE IN MAY 1940 AND AWARDED THE M.C. FOR HIS GALLANTRY IN LEADING ’D’ SQUADRON DURING OPERATION COMPASS IN DECEMBER 1940, DURING WHICH HE WAS ALSO WOUNDED IN THE FACE. AN ORIGINAL ‘RAT OF TOBRUK’, ‘D’ SQUADRON BEING ONE OF THE ONLY TANK UNITS BESIEGED WITH THE 9TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION, APRIL – OCTOBER 1941. IN 1942, HE TOOK PART THE BATTLE OF GAZALA, HIS UNIT AGAIN BEING BESIEGED AT TOBRUK WHERE HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER ON 20 JUNE. HOWEVER, ON HIS WAY INTO CAPTIVITY, HE JUMPED FROM AN AXIS LORRY AND ESCAPED WALKING SOME 500 MILES BEFORE FINALLY REACHING ALLIED LINES. POST WAR, THE WAR OFFICE SELECTED MAJOR HARRIS TO BE TECHNICAL ADVISOR ON THE 1958 FILM ‘TANK FORCE’, WHICH WAS BASED ON THE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE LIBYAN DESERT 1941-2

MILITARY CROSS, G.VI.R. REVERSE OFFICIALLY DATED ‘1941’; INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1936-39, 1 CLASP, NORTH WEST FRONTIER 1936-37 ‘LIEUT. K. P. HARRIS. R. TANK. C.’; 1939-45 STAR; AFRICA STAR; WAR MEDAL 1939-45, WITH M.I.D. OAK LEAF.

‘Commanding ‘D’ Squadron. This officer led his squadron in the attack on Tummar West on the 9th [December 1940]. His tank was penetrated by a shell of high calibre which burst in the tool locker and set it on fire. Major Harris received facial injuries, which, though superficial, blinded him with blood. He destroyed the gun which had hit him, and continued to lead his squadron. Practically every fitting outside of his tank was blown off by enemy fire and the turret jammed. He rallied his squadron and was ordered to reorganize stragglers coming in to the rallying point throughout the night and the following day. He displayed calm and coolness throughout the action and until evacuated on the morning of 11th Dec. His gallantry and devotion to duty are well worthy of recognition. Major Harris was recommended on 15.6.40 for an award of the Military Cross for gallantry during the Battle of France. It is not known if this award had been made. If so the current recommendation is for a bar to M.C.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 18 February 1938. For distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in Waziristan, North West Frontier of India, 25th November, 1936, to 16th January 1937

M.I.D. London Gazette 20 December 1940. This originally a recommendation for the M.C. The original recommendation states:

‘For courage and resource on several occasions between 23rd and 27th May, 1940, particularly at Souchez on 23rd May, 1940, when fighting his tank and engaging enemy A/T artillery at close range - and on the 26th May, 1940, in the Bois de Flines when he displayed great personal courage and coolness in moving his company of tanks out of a position of assembly which was being subjected to particularly heavy bombing from the air. By his cool action on this occasion, he undoubtedly saved many casualties.’

MAJOR KENNETH PASSMORE HARRIS

Kenneth Passmore Harris was born in Purley, Surrey on 4 June 1907 and enlisted into the Royal Tank Corps as a private on 20 October 1925…………

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Condition NEF. Sold with recommendations, Gazettes etc (digital). An exceptional Tank commander’s gallantry group with plenty of research potential.