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World War II: Jack Harrison

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,000.00 - 2,500.00 USD
World War II: Jack Harrison

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Auction Date:2017 Aug 09 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Archive of over 225 letters home from British Lieutenant Jack Harrison of the Royal Navy, consisting of over 1,000 pages, mostly war-dated from circa 1942–1945, from vessels including the HMS "Lark," "Walpole," "Woodpecker," "King Alfred," "Colossus," "Ludlow," "Ganges," "Empress of Scotland," and HMY "Victoria & Albert." There are also letters and envelopes while Lt. Harrison was stationed in Africa in 1945 and postwar. One letter from circa June 1944 on HMS Lark letterhead, in part: "There’s not much to say again, but this time I can tell you that we have been helping the boys over to France. We anchored four or three miles off the French Coast…I have been very disappointed in things as it has not been half so exciting as I thought it would. Still, we have seen one or two things. The big guys bombarding and planes crashing & bombing and one or two other things somewhat gruesome," with the envelope addressed by Harrison having been censored, opened by examiner, and stamped “8 JUN 1944," just two days after D-Day; the HMS Lark was part of Convoy ETP1 in the Thames Estuary.

On February 20, 1944, HMS Woodpecker, after a running fight with a U-Boat, was torpedoed by U-256, commanded by Wilhelm Brauel, remaining afloat eight days before sinking. The crew, including a wounded Jack Harrison and some German prisoners from U-264, were safely transferred to other sloops. Present are two letters in pencil by Harrison, dated February 25–26, 1944: “Do not be alarmed at the writing, as I am using my left hand. All is OK. I have only cut my right hand. Don't pay any attention to my writing” and “How do you think my writing is getting on? My Right hand is coming on fine. I have had about 5 small stitches on it, and it is a little swollen, but once again, do not worry.” On verso of each letter is penciled: “When the Woodpecker was torpedoed."

In a circa April 1944 letter on HMS Lark stationery, he writes: "News on the Wireless does not seem quite so good of late but expect things will buck up a bit sooner or later…If you see in the Illustrated London News this month, or rather January, I think you will see a drawing of Wildgoose and Starling getting the last U Boat. Well, we are very cut up about that, as Wildgoose had damn all to do with it. It was the Woodpecker who first picked it up and it was the Woodpecker who brought it up in conjunction with the Starling—Boy are we boiled up—the cheek of it. The 1st Lieut. is a Canadian in the Wildgoose, and by jove he can spin a yarn and tell a damn lie. We will tell him off when we get back." He also draws sketches on a few letters, including a diagram of where he believes he will be seen in a shot taken for a newsreel. Overall, the letters offer a wonderful first-person glimpse into the life of a Royal Navy officer during WWII. In overall fine condition.