J J Harrison of the ‘Prince of Wales Yorkshire Hussars’

James J Harrison was born in 1857 to Jonathan Stables Harrison and his wife Elizabeth Jane (nee Whitehead). He was baptised in August 1857 at the Church of St Wilfred, Brayton. Jonathan S. Harrison (1818-1884) was described as a “Gentleman” of Brandes Burton Hall (Brandesburton)[1]. Very much the country gentleman, he was a Justice of the Peace for the East Riding (of Yorkshire) and hunted with the ‘Holderness Hounds’[2].

On the death of his father in 1884, James J Harrison, as the only male heir, became the incumbent of Brandesburton Hall. The same year, he enlisted in the ‘Prince of Wales Yorkshire Hussars’[3]. The title of the regiment was ambiguous, and to the unfamiliar might appear to have been a regular unit of the British Army, similar to the ‘10th (Prince of Wales’s Own Royal) Hussars’ or ‘The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)’ – both experienced regiments with extensive campaign service.

However, the ‘Prince of Wales Yorkshire Hussars’ were not a regular regiment of the Crown, they were a part-time locally raised yeomanry cavalry unit. Traditionally, yeomanry cavalry regiments had been raised from the middle-classes (hence ‘yeoman’), to act as irregular cavalry in case of invasion or civil disorder. Rarely posted outside of Britain or Ireland, they were used for defence, or, and in the absence of a standing police force or the regular army, as an aid to civil power. Their middle-class origins, (officers purchased their own uniforms, horses and livery), and lack of experience often exacerbated incidents of social unrest. With the yeomanry’s worst excesses being demonstrated at St Peter’s Field, Manchester in 1819, when the ‘Manchester and Salford Yeomanry’ killed 15 people and wounded hundreds of others. (Subsequently labelled “the Peterloo Massacre” by the Manchester Guardian; an ironic reference to the Battle of Waterloo).

Newspaper reports for the period 1884 to 1905, and available on findmypast.co.uk include hundreds of entries for the regiment. A number have been identified in which JJ Harrison is mentioned personally, others provide an indicator of the events the regiment were involved in: There was a coming-of-age festival, for Lieutenant, the Honourable, Francis Denison, at Londesborough Park in August 1886. (At which Lieutenant JJ Harrison was present). [4] Social niceties were observed in 1887, with the presentation of a silver salver to an officer on the occasion of his marriage. [5] (The presentation being notable because it was made by Sergeant-Major Rawlins, a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade). [6] An annual ball was held at Escrick in February 1888. [7] In January 1889, and to the chagrin of one reader of the Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, three days’ notice was declared insufficient time for the regiment to muster an escort for the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Middlesbrough. [8] There was a prize shoot at Market Weighton in July 1889, (targets as opposed to game). [9] In July 1890, the regiment returned to Londesborough Park, this time for a shooting competition, (the ‘Hussar Prize Shoot’), at which Lieutenant JJ Harrison was present. [10] The rigours of the shoot, with aim being spoilt by a “strong wind”, being made more bearable by the “magnificent luncheon” provided by the Earl of Londesborough. [11] Between the 30th April and the 8th of May 1891, annual training for the regiment was undertaken at York. [12] Being overseen by the Commanding Officer; Lieutenant Colonel HU Lascelles. [13] In October 1893, a detachment of 30 officers and men of the regiment acted as escort to the Duke of York on his visit to Stockton. [14] (Although JJ Harrison was not one of the two officers mentioned).

In 1895, annual training in York, now under Colonel, the Earl Harewood, resulted in the shooting being described as “very good”. [15] In July 1896 the regiment provided an escort to the Duke and Duchess of York when they attended the Yorkshire Show, at the invitation of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. [16] In 1898, Major, the Honourable Lieutenant Colonel Lord Bolton was appointed to command the regiment. [17] The same year (1898), the regiment officially became the ‘Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own)’. In April 1899, D Squadron of the regiment held its “annual smoking concert” at the White Swan Hotel, Pavement, York. [18] Present for the musical entertainment, recitations and toasts to the Queen and the officers of the regiment, was Captain JJ Harrison. [19] In October 1899 the Second Boer War started in South Africa. Volunteers from the yeomanry were allowed to serve as mounted infantry in the newly created ‘Imperial Yeomanry’. Individual members of the ‘Yorkshire Hussars’ volunteered to serve, and two contingents of volunteers from the regiment subsequently served in South Africa. However, JJ Harrison is not known to have been amongst them.

Back in Britain, training for the yeomanry continued, and in 1900 the annual camp was held at Harrogate. [20] Perhaps as a portent of things to come, storms lashed the camp and Lieutenant Colonel Heywood Jones, the CO, was killed by lightening. In March 1903 the regiment was re-titled the ‘Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) Imperial Yeomanry’. In April 1903, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Hull, however, the regiment was not called on to provide an escort. [21] In January 1904, the Driffield Times reported that Major JJ Harrison of Brandesburton Hall, had received “permission from King Leopold to hunt and travel in all the Congo districts”. [22] Around this time, JJ Harrison’s service ended, and he retired with the Honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel (referred to as ‘Colonel’). [23] It was a rank that he was entitled to use as a retired yeomanry officer, and one that came with some prestige. It also gave him a degree of professional credibility when commenting on contemporary events, such as those occurring in the Belgian Congo. Whether that prestige and credibility were deserved is another matter.