General Service Medal (2 Clasps – Palestine, Cyprus), WW2 and Long Service & Good Conduct Medal Group of Five – Quartermaster J. Harrowing, Royal Berkshire Regiment and Wiltshire Regiment

A Palestine, World War II and Cyprus long service medal group of five to Quartermaster James William Harrowing, Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire), who served as a Regimental Sergeant Major for more than 10 years. 

General Service Medal (2 Clasps – Palestine, Cyprus) named to 5334649 Cpl. J. Harrowing. R. Berks. R. 
France & Germany Star unnamed as issued 
WW2 Defence Medal unnamed as issued 
War Medal 1939-45 unnamed as issued 
George VI Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal named to 5344649 W.O.Cl.1. J. Harrowing. Wilts. 

The medals are in good condition and are court mounted for wear. Please note that there is a slight error to his service number on the LS&GC.

James William Harrowing was born on 30 August 1915 and attested into the 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment on 30 August 1933. He served overseas with the regiment in Egypt, India, and the Middle East, qualifying for the General Service Medal with PALESTINE clasp for the regiment’s role in quelling the 1936-39 Arab Revolt. 

He was promoted Lance Corporal 25 June 1934, Corporal 22 October 1935, Lance Sergeant 29 October 1937, Platoon Sergeant Major (warrant officer class III) 1 October 1938, and Company Sergeant Major (warrant officer class II) on 10 June 1939. 

After the start of World War II, Harrowing posted to the 50th (Holding) Battalion on 10 June 1940 and appointed their Regimental Sergeant Major (unpaid acting warrant officer class I) on 2 September 1940. Harrowing was only 25 years old when appointed RSM. He held a number of educational and training certificates, and this might partially explain his unusually rapid promotions even before the start of war. Harrowing was confirmed as a War Substantive Regimental Sergeant Major on 28 August 1941. 

Harrowing was then posted as the 30th Battalion’s RSM on 3 July 1944. The regiment remained in England until landing at Ostend, Belgium, on 13 February 1945. The 30th Battalion played a defensive role during their months in Belgium, France, and Holland, occasionally coming into contact with retreating Germans while sustaining light casualties of two dead and several more wounded. Although Harrowing received the France & Germany Star for this service, he did not serve the required 180 days overseas to qualify for the 1939-45 Star. 

Upon the 30th Berks demobilization, Harrowing transferred to the 5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment as their RSM on 13 November 1945. He then became the 1st Battalion’s RSM on 25 November 1948 and the 4th Battalion’s RSM on 13 November 1949. He received the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal on 29 August 1951. Along with score of other War Substantive RSMs who had waited years while all promotions to substantive RSM were halted for the duration of the war, Harrowing was confirmed as a substantive RSM on 1 April 1952. 

Harrowing was commissioned as the Depot’s Quartermaster on 2 February 1953, Captain
(Quartermaster) on 12 August 1956, and Major (Quartermaster) on 12 August 1962.  

Harrowing served with the Middle East Last Forces (MELF) beginning in 1954, including three years in Cyprus during the emergency of 1956-1959. After being involved in over 50 incidents with mines and bombs, as well as numerous clashes with the EOKA Greek nationalists, the Wiltshire Regiment sailed for home in February 1959. Having held a number of administrative positions during this tour, Harrowing departed on 4 March 1959. For his service, Harrowing received a CYPRUS clasp to his General Service Medal. 

Harrowing was present with the regiment when they were amalgamated with his former regiment to form the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire) on 9 June 1959. He retired on 31 March 1968 after 34 years of military service. Harrowing never married and died 9 November 1983 in Wooburn Green, Buckinghamshire. 

Comes with research.