Arthur Travers Harris GCB OBE (1892 - 1984)

Born 13 Apr 1892 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

Husband of Barbara Daisy Kyrle (Money) Boultbee — married 30 Aug 1916 (to 1935) in Kensington, Middlesex, England

Husband of Thérèse (Hearne) Harris — married 1938 (to 5 Apr 1984) in Marylebone, London, England

Descendants

Died 5 Apr 1984 at age 91 in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Melanie Paul [send private message]

Biography

Arthur Harris GCB OBE is Notable.

Arthur Harris GCB OBE was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.

"Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Travers Harris, 1st Baronet, GCB, OBE, AFC, commonly known as "Bomber" Harris by the press and often within the RAF as "Butcher" Harris, was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) RAF Bomber Command during the height of the Anglo-American strategic bombing campaign against Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
In 1942, the British Cabinet agreed to the "area bombing" of German cities. Harris was given the task of implementing Winston Churchill's policy and supported the development of tactics and technology to perform the task more effectively.
Harris assisted British Chief of the Air Staff Marshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Portal in carrying out the United Kingdom's most devastating attacks against the German infrastructure and population, including the Bombing of Dresden."^[1]

Life Events

Arthur Travers Harris was born on the 13th April 1892, at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, the son of George Steel Travers Harris and Caroline Maria Elliot.^[2]

His parents travelling between India and England on a fairly regular basis, Arthur was baptised on the 11th December 1892, in Gwalior, Bengal, India.^[3]

On the 31st March 1901, 8-year-old Arthur was a boarder at the prestigious Eton College, Buckinghamshire. Also resident at the time were Arthur J De Winton (47) and Robert F C De Winton (32), joint heads / tutors, both of Boughrood, Radnorshire, Wales; their mother: Thomasina S De Winton (73, Gateshead, Durham), living on her own means, their sister: Amelia K De Winton (51, Boughrood, Radnor), lady housekeeper; the staff: Reginald A Roberts (24, India), tutor, Lucy Williams (64, Nova Scotia), domestic nurse, Annie Plumridge (23, Slough, Buckinghamshire), boy's maid, Jane Plumridge (18, Slough, Buckinghamshire), parlourmaid, Elizabeth Jones (23, Llandrindod Wells, Radnorshire, Wales), cook, Ellen Williams (18, Clyro, Radnorshire, Wales), house parlourmaid, Alethea M Cullum (17, Birchington, Kent), housemaid, Mabel M L Savage (15, Swanmore, Hampshire), housemaid, Alice E Wheeler (16, Slough, Buckinghamshire), kitchenmaid; and the pupils: Herbert G Wace (14, Ceylon), Eustace H Wace (12, Ceylon) Ferdinand B Wace (10, Ceylon), Arthur J E Smith (11, India), John W N Smith (8, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire), Frederick K Harris (11, India), Richard F Kinderdey (13, Radley, Oxfordshire), Charles E Kinderdey (10, Eton, Buckinghamshire), Donald H McCartney (12, London, Middlesex), Douglas McCartney (10, London, Middlesex), Stephen D T Farmer (13, Bridgenorth, Shropshire), John A P Millet (12, Broadway, Worcester), John P De Buriatte (13, Aylesford, Kent), Edward De F Renouf (12, Jersey), Henry R F Watson (12, Newdigate, Surrey), Ray Bourne (11, India).^[4][5]

Having been inspired by a play by the actor Arthur Chudleigh, wherein the lead character in the show was a Rhodesian farmer, Harris told his father that he wished to emigrate. Despite his disappointment that his son had no wish to follow either a military, or a civil service career (his dream for his son), George somewhat unenthusiastically agreed and financed the trip. Thus, it was that in 1910 the younger Harris (aged 17 years) travelled to Africa aboard the SS Inanda, journeying afterwards by rail to Manicaland, where he spent the next several years earning his living mining, coach-driving, and farming. Eventually he was taken on at a farm, where it wasn't long before he gained his employer's trust, being made manager, and left in charge when the owner took a year's vacation back to England. This experience set in himself a determination to have his own farm, especially as he now believed he had the skillset to make a success of such a venture. By now, too, Harris had begun to regard himself as "primarily Rhodesian", something that was to last the rest of his life.

At the outbreak of the hostilities in Europe later known as "the Great War", Harris was off in the bush, so was not immediately aware that anything had changed in the world. Despite his desires to run a farm in Rhodesia, and his original lack of enthusiasm for the military career desired by his father, Harris – as so many other young men – felt a patriotic compulsion to join the war effort. When attempting to join the 1st Rhodesian Regiment he discovered only two positions were available – bugler, or machine-gunner. Opting for bugler, as he had learnt that skill when at school at Allhallows, Harris was sworn in on the 20th October 1914. After the campaign in South-West Africa, the 1st Rhodesian Regiment was disbanded, with Harris being discharged on the 31st July 1915, at which time he returned to farming. It wasn't long, however, before it became clear that the conflict in Europe was not going to end as soon as "everyone" hoped, and as had been predicted, which caused Harris and his former comrades to reconsider, and, reluctant to join the 2nd Rhodesia Regiment, and desirous of going to where "the real war" was being waged, a 300-strong contingent of white Southern Rhodesian war volunteers set sail for England.

Harris . . . returned to England in 1915 to fight in the European theatre of the First World War. He joined the Royal Flying Corps, with which he remained until the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, and he remained in the Air Force through the 1920s and 1930s, serving in India, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Palestine, and elsewhere.^[1]

Once there, Harris took up residence with his parents in London, where he tried to join the cavalry, and the artillery, but to no avail. Having failed to find a place in the army, he joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) on the 6th November 1915, originally on probation as a second lieutenant. He was trained at Brooklands, and had his rank confirmed, soon after being promoted to flying officer (29th January 1916), and serving with distinction.

Arthur married Barbara Daisy Kyrle Money, the daughter of Ernle William Kyrle Money, and his wife, Alexandra Gruinard Battye, on the 30th August 1916; the marriage being registered at Kensington.^[6]
Over the next few years Arthur and Barbara were to have three children, a son: Anthony Travers Kyrle (1918), and two daughters: Marigold Patricia (1920), and Rosemary Jeanne (1923).

After the end of the Great War, despite his preference for a rural life in Rhodesia – and with the belief that Barbara would not at all enjoy life as a Rhodesian farmer's wife – Arthur, Barbara, and Anthony settled instead in England, substituting a career in the Royal Air Force for farming.

Harris and Barbara divorced in 1935, sometime after which, through a mutual friend, he met the then twenty-year-old Thérèse "Jillie" Hearne.

Arthur and Jillie married in 1838, their marriage being registered in the 2nd Quarter at Marylebone, London.^[7]
Their daughter, Jacqueline Jill was born the following year.

In 1936 Harris visited Southern Rhodesia in order to assist the Southern Rhodesian government set up its own air force. In July 1937 he was promoted to air commodore, and in 1938 became commander of No. 4 (Bomber) Group. It was after a purchasing mission to the United States that he was posted to Palestine and Trans-Jordan, where he was made Officer Commanding the RAF contingent in that area. On the 1st July 1939 he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal.
He was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 11 June 1942.

At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Harris took command of No. 5 Group RAF in England, and in February 1942 was appointed head of Bomber Command. He retained that position for the rest of the war. After the war Harris moved to South Africa where he managed the South African Marine Corporation.^[1]

In 1942 Harris was directed to carry out Professor Frederick Lindemann's proposal to Cabinet in respect of area bombing of German cities in a strategic bombing campaign. Known as the "Area bombing directive" it became an important part of the war effort waged against Germany.
Harris found himself at odds with Prime Minister Winston Churchill regarding the reluctance of the latter to fully endorse the tactics used against Germany, and also Churchill's hesitancy to "be honest with the public regarding the purpose of the bombing campaign".
From November 1943 until March 1944 the offensive by Bomber Command known as the Battle of Berlin was conducted.
After a visit to Harris by its Prime Minister, Sir Godfrey Huggins, in May 1944, Southern Rhodesia asked the UK government to appoint Harris as Governor at the end of the year, something about which Harris was rather enthusiastic. However, Harris felt he could not leave the war effort at this crucial time—something supported by Churchill, who refused the request.

Within the postwar British government there was some disquiet about the level of destruction that had been created by the area-bombing of German cities towards the end of the war. Harris retired on 15 September 1946 and wrote his story of Bomber Command's achievements in Bomber Offensive. In this book he wrote, concerning Dresden, "I know that the destruction of so large and splendid a city at this late stage of the war was considered unnecessary even by a good many people who admit that our earlier attacks were as fully justified as any other operation of war. Here I will only say that the attack on Dresden was at the time considered a military necessity by much more important people than myself."^[1]

After the war Harris wished to revisit the proposition of the Governorship of Rhodesia, but Huggins responded at that point with a sympathetic refusal, saying that by the time the position was again vacant, Harris would be too old. Similar problems were attached to other suggestions by Harris of how he could aid "his country—Rhodesia" : residency conditions applied to politics, plus the time needed to garner support in any constituency.
Harris refused a peerage in 1946; in protest at what he perceived as a snub to his men regards a separate campaign medal, thereby being the only commander-in-chief not to become a peer.
In 1948, having reluctantly relinquished of a return to Rhodesia, Harris moved instead to South Africa, where he managed the South African Marine Corporation (Safmarine) from 1946 to 1953.
In 1953 Winston Churchill, having been re-elected Prime Minister, insisted that Harris accept a baronetcy, and thus he became 1st baronet Harris, of Chepping Wycombe. It was after this that Harris returned to England, where he resided the rest of his life at his home alongside the river Thames.

Arthur Travers Harris passed away on the 5th April 1984 at his home, Ferry House, in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, just eight days before his 92nd birthday.^[8]
Arthur was cremated, with his cremains being inurned at the Goring Cemetery, Goring, South Oxfordshire.^[9]

Sadly, the Baronetcy of Harris, of Chepping Wycombe, which had begun with him as 1st Baronet, became extinct in 1996, when his only son, Anthony, died without an heir.

Arthur "Bomber" Harris had been the recipient of numerous awards over time :

• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
• Officer of the Order of the British Empire
• Air Force Cross
• Mentioned in Despatches (2)
• Order of Suvorov, 1st Class (USSR)
• Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
• Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil)
• Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)
• Croix de guerre (France)

A video interview with Harris can be viewed here (Daily Mail (UK)) - at least so long as the link is still valid.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Wikipedia:Sir_Arthur_Harris,_1st_Baronet
2. ↑ England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search Births: Name: HARRIS, ARTHUR TRAVERS, Mother's Maiden Surname: ELLIOT, GRO Reference: 1892 J Quarter in CHELTENHAM Volume 06A Page 431
3. ↑ "India Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGWY-WJW : 5 February 2020), Arthur Teavers Harris, 1892.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9YY-4MK : 20 May 2019), Frederick K Harris in household of John W N Harris, Slough, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Eton subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
5. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1901 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data:Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1901. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. The National Archives gives no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided. Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to the National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU.
6. ↑ FreeBMD online search Marriages Sep 1916: Surname: Harris, Given Name: Arthur T, Spouse: Money, District: Kensington, Volume: 1a, Page: 319 | Surname: Money, Given Name: Barbara D K, Spouse: Harris, District: Kensington, Volume: 1a, Page: 319
7. ↑ FreeBMD online search Marriages Jun 1938: Surname: Harris, Given Name: Arthur T, Spouse: Hearne, District: Marylebone, Volume: 1a, Page: 1631 | Surname: Hearne, Given Name: Therese, Spouse: Harris, District: Marylebone, Volume: 1a, Page: 1631
8. ↑ England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search Deaths: Name: HARRIS, ARTHUR TRAVERS, Year of Birth: 1892, GRO Reference: DOR Q2/1984 in HENLEY (7011) Volume 30 Page 2293
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 30 April 2018), memorial page for Arthur Travers Harris (13 Apr 1894–5 Apr 1984), Find A Grave: Memorial #17644063, citing Goring Cemetery, Goring, South Oxfordshire District, Oxfordshire, England ; Maintained by Dieter Birkenmaier (contributor 46785965).

See also:

• Wikipedia:Sir_Arthur_Harris,_1st_Baronet
• Wikidata: Item Q372052
• The Peerage
• Britannica.com biography: Arthur Harris
• BBC History, Historic Figures: Arthur "Bomber" Harris
• World War II Database: biography, Arthur Harris
• New York Times obituary: Arthur T Harris, dead at 91
• World War II Gravestone: Arthur Harris