He proceeded to the Cape in command of a Field Company of Royal Engineers in February 1879. On landing at Durban he was appointed Royal Engineer Officer at Army Head-Quarters. On the 8th May he was appointed A.Q.M.G. (Assistant Quartermaster-General) at Head-Quarters, and in that capacity he was in charge of the Quartermaster-General's Department of the Army during the advance of the Columns into Zululand. He was present at various small engagements, and at the Battle of Ulundi. Was mentioned in Lord Chelmsford's Despatch as one of the 'officers who have specially assisted me during the recent operations in Zululand.' Was made C.B. (Companion of the Bath). When Brigadier-General Wood was invalided to England, Colonel Harrison was appointed By Sir Garnet Wolseley to the command of the Flying Column, on the breaking up of which he was sent on special service to Sekukuni's country. On completion of that duty he was appointed to the command of the troops in the Transvaal, which position he held during the operations against Sekukuni, and the movements rendered necessary by the threatened rising of the Boers in the Autumn and Winter of 1879. He was specially mentioned by Sir Garnet Wolseley in his final despatch as having rendered 'most valuable services during the Sekukuni Campaign,' and also for the way in which he acted during 'The agitation's set on foot by a section of the Boer community.'
Date of Birth - 25th May 1837
First Appointment - Lieutenant - Royal Engineers - 31st July 1855
Captain - Royal Engineers - 26th July 1862
Brevet Major - Royal Engineers - 11th October 1864
Major - Royal Engineers - 3rd August 1872
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel - Royal Engineers - 17th May 1874
Lieutenant-Colonel - Royal Engineers - 6th August 1881
Brevet Colonel - 17th May 1879
Brigade Major, Royal Engineers, Chatham - 1st September 1864 to 31st August 1869
A. Q. M. G., South Africa - 8th May 1879 to 6th September 1879
Commanding Troops, Transvaal, South Africa - 7th September 1879 to 21st January 1880
A. A. and Q. M. G., Aldershot - 16th February 1881 to 3rd August 1882
A. A. G., Expeditionary Force, Egypt - 4th August 1882 to 11th November 1882
A. A. and Q. M. G., Aldershot - 16th November 1882
He passed the Staff College in 1875
The date of his nomination for his CB was 27th November 1879
The date of his nomination for his CMG was 18th November 1882
Indian Mutiny - 1857-9 - Actions at Alumbagh, siege and capture of Lucknow, affairs of fort Roolan, Alligunge, Bareilly, Buxarghat; as staff officer to the Commanding Royal Engineer in the Trans-Gogra campaign at the actions of Burgeedia, fort Musjeedia, and Bankee. Medal with Clasp.
China War - 1860 - Affairs of Sinho and Tangku, siege and capture of Taku forts, attached to Quartermaster-General. Staff at advance on and surrender of Pekin, affairs of Senho and Uleangho. Mentioned in Despatches. Brevet of Major. Medal with 2 clasps.
South African War -1879 - Zulu Campaign - As senior Royal Engineer at Head-Quarters, and afterwards as A. Q. M. G. Battle of Ulundi. Despatches, London Gazette, 21st August 1879. C.B. Medal with Clasp. Commanded the Flying column July and August 1879; commanded the troops in the Transvaal during the operations against Sekukuni, and the Boer agitations of 1879-80. Mentioned in Despatches.
Egyption Expedition - 1882 - Appointed A. A. G. Served as Chief Staff Officer on lines of communication throughout the campaign. Action of El Magfar and battle of Tel-el-Kebir. Despatches, London Gazette, 2nd November 1882. Medal with Clasp; bronze star; CMG; 3rd Class Osmanieh.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Grave, Higher Ashton Parish Churchyard, Higher Ashton, Devon, England[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Memorial Stone Plaque, Rochester Cathedral, England