Leonard Harrison

Who was Leonard Harrison?

Leonard Henry Harrison was awarded the George Cross "for acts of exceptional coolness and courage on several occasions" in defusing unexploded German bombs during the Second World War. Having joined the RAF in 1922, he served as Civilian Armament Instructor at an Royal Air Force armament training school in 1940 and was an authority on explosive fuse systems. He used this expertise to render many munitions safe, including a bomb with a previously unknown fuse which had lodged in the deck of a grain carrier which struggled into Immingham Docks which he defused with Flt Lt John Dowland. He also defused a device on a fishing boat in the Humber. His award was published in the London Gazette and was also covered by the Saturday News Chronicle of 4 January 1941.

Born in Devonport, he was in the RAF for 12 years before entering the reserve.

In 1941, he was given a commission on probabation as an Acting Pilot Officer. Subsequently confirmed and made up to Flying Officer in May 1942. Flight Lieutenant followed in 1944.