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Son of the Revd. Alfred Thomas Harre, A.K.C., the Vicar of Benoni, and Louise Harre; step-son of Marjorie Charlotte Vivian Harre (nee Harris), of 119 Birdhurst Road, Croydon, Surrey. Born at St. Dunstan's Vicarage, Benoni, Transvaal, South Africa. Educated at the Junior King's School from September 1920 to March 1925 and at St John's School Leatherhead where he was in North House from 1925 to 1930. He was a member of the Photographic Society and was in the Special Form. He was confirmed by the Bishop of Guildford in St John's School Chapel on the 25th of November 1927. On leaving school he went to work for Coutts Bank. In 1937 he joined the Westminster Dragoons, part of the Territorial Army, and he was mobilised for on the outbreak of war. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Tank Regiment on the 19th of November 1939. In January 1940 he was appointed to the staff of General Bernard Law Montgomery (OKS) at 3rd Infantry Division as a Motor Control Liaison Officer. He took part in operations in Belgium and escaped from Dunkirk by swimming from the beach to a boat. For his actions during the campaign he was awarded the Military Cross on the 11th of July 1940. On his return to England he served firstly as an Aide De Camp and later as a Staff Captain to General Montgomery. He requested a transfer to a more active role and obtained permission to return to a front line tank unit. As a result he was posted to the Middle East with the 47th Royal Tank Regiment, part of 10th Armoured Division in May 1942 where he was given command of 7 Troop in B Squadron. Commemorated by a stained glass window which is dedicated to him and his father at St. Dustan's Cathedral in South Africa. He is also commemorated on the memorials at Coutts Bank and at St John's School, Leatherhead. |