Colin
Firstname
Leslie
Middle Name
Harrison
Surname
Date of Birth
School Years:
Date of Death:
1934 - 42
Family
School Record
Head of Rigaud House and School Prefect. He was Victor Ludorum in 1942, winning the half and quarter miles and the hundred yards. He was CSM of the OTC, School Librarian and Magazine Editor. He played Malvolio in Twelfth Night and his performance was described in the School Magazine as "extremely good and a high level of acting" He passed the Cambridge Previous examination.
Branch of Service:
Royal Artillery
Service Number:
Rank:
Decorations:
Service Record
Lieutenant
Legion D'honneur and Campaign medals
Post War Career
He joined up on leaving School in 1942 and attended a potential officers' course at University College Newcastle. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in late 1943. He joined 323 Battery 81st Field Regiment in France in 1944 and fought through Belgium and Holland, arriving in Hamburg in time for VE day. Having learnt German at School, he then joined the War Crimes Investigation Team and assisted with looking into the many atrocities committed by the enemy. There were about 40 officers on the Team, including Clement Freud. In his unpublished memoire, he described the team as "a mad undisciplined lot and HQ were not pleased to have us in their midst". He also represented the British Army of the Rhine and ran in the 800 metres against a visiting team from Oxford University. The race was won by Roger Bannister. He was demobilised in 1947.
He attended Selwyn College Cambridge and read Geography. He ran for the College and University beating the Olympic runner Chris Brasher but losing again in Oxford to Roger Bannister. After graduating, he became a teacher and was appointed Headmaster of Bedstone College. His first wife Sally with whom he had three sons died in 1972 and he subsequently married Rosemary who survives him.
Burial Information
Additional Information
Unpublished memoir of his experiences in the Army during WW2 is available in School Records.
Other Pictures