Major General James Francis Harter DSO MC (1888–1960) was a British Army officer who became colonel of the Royal Fusiliers.
James Harter | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1888 |
| Died | 1960 (aged 71−72) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1907–1943 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Service number | 1935 |
| Unit | Royal Fusiliers |
| Commands | 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in dispatches (5)[1] Croix de guerre [2] |
Military career
editHarter was commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers, after having graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in October 1907.[3]
Harter served with his regiment in World War I, being wounded in 1914[4] and then, as a captain, being awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1918. [5] The citation for the medal appeared in The London Gazette in July and reads as follows:[6]
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Being sent forward to establish a new headquarters, after the capture of the first objective, he found some troops held up by enemy fire. Having reorganised them, he planned an attack and cleared a wood of the enemy, a prompt action which had an important effect on the progress of the operations. On several later occasions he obtained, by personal reconnaissance, most valuable information, and under difficult situations has been of the greatest assistance to battalion commanders. He has always displayed initiative, gallantry and a soldierly instinct.
Attending the Staff College, Camberley from 1924 to 1925, during World War II he commanded a formation in the North Midlands.[7] He later served as colonel of the Royal Fusiliers.[8]
References
edit- ^ Smart 2005, p. 141.
- ^ "No. 13356". The Edinburgh Gazette. 25 November 1918. p. 3299.
- ^ "No. 28067". The London Gazette. 8 October 1907. p. 6747.
- ^ "Casualty List". The Graphic Newspaper. 8 September 1914. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- ^ "No. 30507". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 February 1918. p. 1600.
- ^ "No. 30780". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 July 1918. p. 7886.
- ^ All-day H.G. shoot: 700 compete, Derby Daily Telegraph, 23 October 1944
- ^ "Royal Fusiliers colonels". British Empire. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
Bibliography
edit- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.