Grenville's Founding Commanding Officer - Leslie Harrision
Special thanks to LCol (ret) David Harrison, Leslie's Grandson for providing this history
On February 1, 1916 Leslie was promoted to midshipman and posted to the dreadnought battleship HMS ST. VINCENT; which was under the command of Captain William W. Fisher, R.N. (later, Admiral Sir William Fisher). With the Great War now in its second bloody year, and the ST. VINCENT in active service, this was right into the breach for Midshipman Harrison.
The rank of midshipman is indicative of a young officer cadet trainee on the road to a commissioned rank. As a midshipman, he was required to maintain a Seamanship notebook and a Midshipman’s journal. The purpose of the journal was to record his training as a midshipman including “… the power of observation, the power of expression and the habit of orderliness”. While on board ST. VINCENT, Midshipman Harrison was initially required to assume command of the ship’s liberty boats and he was rotated around the various ship departments to broaden his experience.
Leslie received his first assessment from Captain Fisher in early May 1916: “General conduct: satisfactory; Ability: average; too old for years, serious, conscientious, knows a lot, but seldom smiles, absolutely reliable, bound to do well.” During this period, he studied for his Lieutenant’s examinations. His results: Seamanship 2nd Class, Marks 394/600, and Standing 9/17. Upon completion of his Midshipman’s time and experience, Leslie passed the Seamanship Board as the final prerequisite for promotion to (Acting) Sub-Lieutenant.
In late May 1916, the ST. VINCENT participated in the epic Battle of Jutland, the greatest naval battle of WW1. The 72-hour conflict involved over 250 British and German warships battling it out in the North Sea off the Danish coast; and culminated with the German fleet running for home with the British giving “chase”. The Royal Navy battleships were steaming “flat out” in line astern, firing at the German capital ships as they scurried to their harbours under the cover of darkness.
Leslie’s final sea posting was in February 1922 to HMS VULCAN, a Submarine Depot Ship for the 4th Submarine Flotilla on the China Station under the command of Commander Robert H.T. Raikes, R.N. Leslie was assigned to Submarine H49, a newer H-Class, as its First Lieutenant (Executive Officer). His appointment as XO was the fitting culmination of a short but intense career as a British submariner. With that said, it is quite likely that Leslie considered a one year plus deployment to China Station (Hong Kong based) aboard a submarine as being incompatible with his recent engagement to Phyllis and his developing plans for the two to emigrate to Canada. As a result, Leslie was placed on the Navy’s Retired List at his request effective June 22, 1922.
His lifelong pal, Jim Claxton, summed it up by stating that (Leslie) “… decided to stay on after the war; however, in those days pay was small and an Officer without private funds had little chance of getting ahead and little encouragement to stay with it.” Upon his release, Leslie was formally advised that His Majesty’s Paymaster General had been authorized to pay him 'Retirement Pay' at the Rate of £105 a year!
On April 21, 1924 Leslie and Phyllis were married in Kelowna at the St. Michael and All Angels Cathedral by the Rector, the Rev. Thomas Greene, Archdeacon of the Okanagan. Leslie’s Uncles Roy Day and Herbert Day were witnesses. The ‘warrior’ wore his Royal Navy uniform!
In 1927, Leslie tapped some of his naval organizational skills with the assistance of his friend Jim Claxton to start a Sea Cadet Corps in Kelowna. Their objective was to help young people learn about teamwork, seamanship, and self-discipline. Leslie was the first commanding officer of the “Grenville” Sea Cadet Corps (now: 93 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Grenville). The Corps is still active, some 93 years from its inception. At the 50th Anniversary of the Corps in 1977, the ‘Annual Inspection’ of the cadets was conducted by Rear Admiral M. (Micky) Stirling who had been one of the original sea cadets in the Corps Leslie launched - a fine testament to Leslie’s vision.
Leslie was back in the service with the RCN at the outbreak of WW2. He wanted to get back to sea, but because of his age and a 17-year lapse of naval service he was assigned to shore duties in BC for the war years. His first assignment was at Naden Esquimalt, then local coastal defence at Comox, and finally Manning Officer at Jericho. He retired in 1945 with the rank of Commander. Not to be grounded for long, he returned briefly to Kelowna as Skipper of Kelowna Westbank ferry. A government staff job at the ferries office in Victoria finally reunited him with his family who had moved to the city in 1939.
When the Kelowna-Westbank Ferry was retired in 1938, Leslie ensured that the ship's wheel was donated to RCSCC Grenville. This wheel has been in regular use for parades and ceremonies by the Corps ever since then.
Leslie died in 1961 at the age of 63.
Special thanks to LCol (ret) David Harrison, Leslie's Grandson for providing this history
On February 1, 1916 Leslie was promoted to midshipman and posted to the dreadnought battleship HMS ST. VINCENT; which was under the command of Captain William W. Fisher, R.N. (later, Admiral Sir William Fisher). With the Great War now in its second bloody year, and the ST. VINCENT in active service, this was right into the breach for Midshipman Harrison.
The rank of midshipman is indicative of a young officer cadet trainee on the road to a commissioned rank. As a midshipman, he was required to maintain a Seamanship notebook and a Midshipman’s journal. The purpose of the journal was to record his training as a midshipman including “… the power of observation, the power of expression and the habit of orderliness”. While on board ST. VINCENT, Midshipman Harrison was initially required to assume command of the ship’s liberty boats and he was rotated around the various ship departments to broaden his experience.
Leslie received his first assessment from Captain Fisher in early May 1916: “General conduct: satisfactory; Ability: average; too old for years, serious, conscientious, knows a lot, but seldom smiles, absolutely reliable, bound to do well.” During this period, he studied for his Lieutenant’s examinations. His results: Seamanship 2nd Class, Marks 394/600, and Standing 9/17. Upon completion of his Midshipman’s time and experience, Leslie passed the Seamanship Board as the final prerequisite for promotion to (Acting) Sub-Lieutenant.
In late May 1916, the ST. VINCENT participated in the epic Battle of Jutland, the greatest naval battle of WW1. The 72-hour conflict involved over 250 British and German warships battling it out in the North Sea off the Danish coast; and culminated with the German fleet running for home with the British giving “chase”. The Royal Navy battleships were steaming “flat out” in line astern, firing at the German capital ships as they scurried to their harbours under the cover of darkness.
Leslie’s final sea posting was in February 1922 to HMS VULCAN, a Submarine Depot Ship for the 4th Submarine Flotilla on the China Station under the command of Commander Robert H.T. Raikes, R.N. Leslie was assigned to Submarine H49, a newer H-Class, as its First Lieutenant (Executive Officer). His appointment as XO was the fitting culmination of a short but intense career as a British submariner. With that said, it is quite likely that Leslie considered a one year plus deployment to China Station (Hong Kong based) aboard a submarine as being incompatible with his recent engagement to Phyllis and his developing plans for the two to emigrate to Canada. As a result, Leslie was placed on the Navy’s Retired List at his request effective June 22, 1922.
His lifelong pal, Jim Claxton, summed it up by stating that (Leslie) “… decided to stay on after the war; however, in those days pay was small and an Officer without private funds had little chance of getting ahead and little encouragement to stay with it.” Upon his release, Leslie was formally advised that His Majesty’s Paymaster General had been authorized to pay him 'Retirement Pay' at the Rate of £105 a year!
On April 21, 1924 Leslie and Phyllis were married in Kelowna at the St. Michael and All Angels Cathedral by the Rector, the Rev. Thomas Greene, Archdeacon of the Okanagan. Leslie’s Uncles Roy Day and Herbert Day were witnesses. The ‘warrior’ wore his Royal Navy uniform!
In 1927, Leslie tapped some of his naval organizational skills with the assistance of his friend Jim Claxton to start a Sea Cadet Corps in Kelowna. Their objective was to help young people learn about teamwork, seamanship, and self-discipline. Leslie was the first commanding officer of the “Grenville” Sea Cadet Corps (now: 93 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Grenville). The Corps is still active, some 93 years from its inception. At the 50th Anniversary of the Corps in 1977, the ‘Annual Inspection’ of the cadets was conducted by Rear Admiral M. (Micky) Stirling who had been one of the original sea cadets in the Corps Leslie launched - a fine testament to Leslie’s vision.
Leslie was back in the service with the RCN at the outbreak of WW2. He wanted to get back to sea, but because of his age and a 17-year lapse of naval service he was assigned to shore duties in BC for the war years. His first assignment was at Naden Esquimalt, then local coastal defence at Comox, and finally Manning Officer at Jericho. He retired in 1945 with the rank of Commander. Not to be grounded for long, he returned briefly to Kelowna as Skipper of Kelowna Westbank ferry. A government staff job at the ferries office in Victoria finally reunited him with his family who had moved to the city in 1939.
When the Kelowna-Westbank Ferry was retired in 1938, Leslie ensured that the ship's wheel was donated to RCSCC Grenville. This wheel has been in regular use for parades and ceremonies by the Corps ever since then.
Leslie died in 1961 at the age of 63.
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