Jack Harrison

Jack's memorial at the KC was officially unveiled before the 2nd test in 2003. Here's my contribution to the programme for the match.

Jack Harrison VC MC

Most of us, I’m sure, can recall our special heroes of test match rugby, whether they wore the green and gold or red, white and blue. However, the city of Hull has its own special hero, who although he never graced the international stage, certainly made his mark on and off the field.

Jack Harrison was born in 1890, the son of a boilermaker and plater, he grew up in a tough and austere background and soon learned to look after himself. Unlike his contemporaries, Jack did not leave school at the age of twelve, his parents recognised his talents and made enormous sacrifices to enable him to further his education. Their faith was rewarded in 1910, when he was accepted for teacher training at St John’s College, York.

During his training at St John’s he first came to the attention of the York Northern Union Club. Already an ever-present in football, cricket, tennis, swimming and athletics, it was his sprinter’s speed and strong build that encouraged York to sign him in the 1911/12 season.

Returning to his native city to take up a teaching post in 1912, he signed for the Hull NURFC, stepping out in the famous black & white irregular hoops on 5 September 1912. During that date and 1916, Jack played 116 matches, scoring 106 tries and two goals, playing on the wing outside of the famous centre, Billy Batten. In the 1913/14 Challenge Cup Final, Jack scored one of Hull’s two tries in the defeat of Wakefield Trinity and in the following season, he scored 52 tries, a club record that stands to this day.

In 1914, the British Army recognised the need for more officers and offered immediate training to men with ‘suitable qualifications’. Jack reported for training in November 1915 and was commissioned as Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the East Yorkshire Regiment on 5 August 1916, ultimately joining the 11th (Tradesmen’s) Battalion.

After the East Yorks entered the front line at Arras, Jack was involved in an attack on February 25th that saw him awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry.

The German-held area around the village of Oppy was well fortified, with barbed wire, machine guns and trench mortars. The men of the Hull Brigade set out to attack on the night of 2nd of May under a clear sky and a full moon. Two attacks by Jack’s Company were repulsed with heavy losses from machine guns. Desperate measures were required and Jack showed no hesitation in taking them.

Telling his men to keep the machine gun under constant fire and armed only with his pistol and a grenade, Jack called upon all of his experience gained on the rugby field. Using his speed and side-step, he weaved through no-mans-land until he reached his objective. Silhouetted by flares, Jack’s men saw him fall forward as he threw his grenade. The machine gun was silenced. 2nd Lt Jack Harrison was never seen again.

This act of bravery earned him the Victoria Cross; which was presented to his widow, Lillian, by King George V on 2nd March 1918.

It is also fitting to point out that Jack's son Jackie, lost his life at Dunkerque in WW2. So, in the space of two conflicts, Lillian, Jack's widow, lost both of her men.

The memorial was driven by some of the people on this forum, Standee, Ian P, Wilf, Cindy and others, including Rev Bagshawe. Trish Goldsmith also needs to be mentioned for her involvement at club level because she helped drive things through.

If anyone's interested I have a pdf copy of "The Road to Oppy Wood", giving a bit more background to Jack's bravery, I also have pdf copies of the original citations in The London Gazette for his MC and VC awards. If you want copies, please send me your e-mail via pm.

The one thing that working on the JH committee did bring home to me was the brotherhood that is rugby league. We received support from every RL clubs' supporters, not just in the UK but from Aus & NZ too. Hatches were buried with our friends across on the dark side, Vincenzo was among them, even though at the time he had problems of his own.

Jack's sacrifice and his (all too short) life should make us all realise our mortality and strive to be better human beings.