HARRISON, ESME STUART ERSKINE, Major,
was born 21 September 1864, son of Lieutenant General Broadley Harrison of the
11th Hussars. He was educated at Wellington College, and was gazetted to the
11th Hussars 9 May 1885. He became Captain 4 January 1892, and took part in
the operations on the North-West Frontier of India, 1897-98 (Medal with
clasp). He was Adjutant, 11th Hussars, 8 March 1898 to 27 November 1898. He
was promoted to Major, and served in the South African War, 1899 to 1903;
He was twice mentioned in despatches by Sir Redvers Buller, firstly in his
despatch , dated Laing’s Nek, 19 June 1900, ‘...on the 12th [June] the
occupation of Volksrust by Capt. E. Harrison, 11th Hussars, attached to 19th
Hussars, with a small party of that regiment was very well affected, and the
measures he took for the seizure of archives and telegraph instruments were
well considered and proved of value’; and, secondly, in his despatch, dated
9 November 1900 (‘to be taken as a whole in connection with his despatch of
March 30’), ‘Captain E. Harrison, 11th Hussars, intelligence officer, is
bold, steady, and methodical, with plenty of dash; he is a good soldier and
a good intelligence officer'; received the Queen's Medal with five clasps,
and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London
Gazette, 19 April, 1901]: "Esme Stuart Erskine Harrison, Major, 11th Hussars.
In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The
Insignia were presented to him by the GOC, Egypt. Major Harrison's favourite
recreations were hunting, shooting, fishing and polo. Major Harrison
died from a fall during a Polo match at Ghezireh, Egypt, on 1 November 1902.
He bequeathed to the Regiment one of its most prized possessions, the
Bhurtpoor Sword, which he had inherited from his father, General Broadley
Harrison, and which is now displayed in the Royal Hussars Museum,
Winchester.
DSO VRI, IGS 1895 (1) Tirah 97-98 (Capt 11th Hussars), QSA (5) CC DL OFS LN
Belf (Maj 11th Hussars). DNW Apr 06 £2,800.
(Picture courtesy of DNW)
