William Leeming Harrison

Captain William Leeming Harrison was a Canadian fighter ace in World War I. He was credited with twelve aerial victories.

Enlistment information
William Leeming Harrison enlisted in the 220th Battalion (12th Regiment York Rangers), CEF of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 3 April 1916 in his home town of Toronto. He gave his birth date as 30 December 1897,although he faked his age to get into the War. His real birth date is December 30, 1899. He was a student living at home with his father, Doctor William Spencer Harrison. The military doctor noted the younger Harrison's age as 18 years 3 months (really 16 and 3 months), his appearance as fair, with brown eyes and dark hair. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall, and had a scar on his right thumb.

World War I
Circumstances of Harrison's early service are still cloudy. There are two records of his becoming an officer. On 29 May 1917, Harrison was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. Effective 17 June 1917, Harrison was commissioned as a Probationary Second lieutenant.

He was finished pilot's training in Summer 1917, and was assigned to fly a Nieuport in C Flight, 40 Squadron. On 9 August 1917, he destroyed a German observation balloon over Arras for his first victory. The squadron re-equipped with new Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as, and Harrison used his new craft for his second victory, when he destroyed a Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke reconnaissance plane on 18 January 1918. On 26 February, he drove down an Albatros D.V out of control. Mid-day and late afternoon wins on 6 March made him an ace. He would score five more times in March, ending the month as a double ace. After destroying another German plane on 1 April, he was promoted to Captain and transferred to 1 Squadron as a Flight Commander. He destroyed a Pfalz D.III on 11 April 1918, to round out his tally at a balloon and seven enemy airplanes destroyed, and four driven down out of control. He was then wounded, and left combat duty. His Military Cross was awarded in May 1918, with a Bar in lieu of a second award following.

Text of citation for Military Cross
2nd Lt. William Leeming Harrison, R.F.C., Spec. Res.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial fighting. He destroyed two enemy machines and drove down others out of control. He always showed a splendid spirit of dash, keenness and tenacity, coupled with determination and skill in attacking enemy aircraft.

William Leeming Harrison was also awarded a Bar to his Military Cross in lieu of a second award.

Post World War I
Harrison went on the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force on 29 September 1919.

Later after the war, Harrison's father made him marry a young woman (unknown). They had 3 children together (unknown). a few years later, Harrison met a poor girl named Violet May Hubel (1909). They fell in instantly. Williams wife found out about the affair and told Williams father. Williams father didn't like the idea of her at all, she was poor and was a child of 8 (unknown. William and Violet decided to elope together. They left Canada and traveled through America and camped with American Indian tribes. A year later they got on a boat to New Zealand, they built a beautiful home in Auckland and had 4 children, Eve, the twins Lee and Arthur and zo. On 6 January 1960 he died of bowel cancer, four days after the 17th birthday of his his eldest child, Eve. His wife died of a heart attack in 1987.