Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Douglas Harries

 Douglas        b: 31 Mar 1893                  r: 19 Aug 1946                              d: 6 Dec 1972

KCB - 1 Jan 1947 (CB - 1 Jan 1943), AFC - 1 Jan 1919, MiD - 15 Sep 1939,  SMSL, C - 11 Aug 1917.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(RN): - Mid'n: 15 Sep 1910, Act Sub-Lt: 15 Jan 1913, Sub-Lt: 15 Sep 1913, Act Flt Lt: 15 Feb 1915, Lt: 15 Feb 1915, Flt Lt: 1 Apr 1915, Flt Cdr: 30 Jun 1916, Sqn Cdr: 30 Jun 1917.

(RAF): - (T) Maj [Capt]: 1 Apr 1918, Act Lt Col: 1 May 1919, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1926, Gp Capt*: 1 Jul 1935, A/Cdre: 1 Nov 1938, Act AVM: 28 Jan 1942, (T) AVM: 1 Dec 1942, AVM: 1 Jun 1944.

*Promoted under the provisions of the last sentence of Paragraph 354 (b) King's Regulation and Air Council Instructions

15 Jan 1906:               Attended RN College Osborne

15 Sep 1910:                Midshipman, HMS Britannia

29 Sep 1911:               Midshipman, HMS Defence

21 Feb 1912:               Midshipman/Officer, HMS Indomitable

xx Aug 1913:              Officer, HMS Hibernia

 8 Oct 1913:               Officer, HMS Collingwood

14 Dec 1914:               Attached HMS Pembroke III for service with RNAS

15 Feb 1915:               U/T Airship Pilot, Farnborough Airship Station

1915                            Pilot, Airship No 3, Polegate Airship Station

 4 Mar 1916:                Pilot, Kingsnorth Airship Station

30 Jun 1917:                Squadron Commander, Kingsnorth Airship Station

28 Jul 1917:                 Squadron Commander, RNAS Barrow

 1 Apr 1918                 Airship Branch.

26 Jun 1918:                Staff Officer 1st Class, Head of Airship Maintenance (Div III), Air Ministry

 1 Aug 1919:                Awarded Permanent Commission in rank of Squadron Leader. (gazetted 26 Sep 1919)

22 Jan 1920:                Removed from the Navy Lists on being awarded Permanent Commission in RAF

 8 Jul 1920:                  Staff Officer, RAF Airship Base, Howden.

xx xxx 1921:                Attached to Department of the Controller-General of Civil Aviation for Airship duties

 8 Sep 1921:                Staff (OC?), RAF Airship Base, Howden. (Pending disbandment)

24 Feb 1922:               Supernumerary, HQ Coastal Area.

21 Apr 1922:                Supernumerary, HQ RAF Iraq (to command Armoured Car Company on formation).

 3 Nov 1922:                Officer Commanding, No 5 Armoured Car Company.

16 Feb 1924:                U/T Pilot, No 4 FTS.

16 Feb 1925:                Squadron Commander?, No 4 FTS.

10 Feb 1926:                Staff, RAF Depot, Egypt.

20 Jan 1927:                Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

21 Jul 1927:                 Squadron Commander?, No 2 Apprentice's Wing, RAF Halton.

 5 May 1930:               Attended Senior Officer's (Army) School, Sheerness.

27 Jul - 7 Sep 1930:     Placed on half pay list, Scale A

17 Oct 1930:               Head of the Intelligence Branch, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.

 9 Feb 1934:                Officer Commanding, RAF Ramlah.

 2 Oct 1935:                Officer Commanding, RAF Amman.

30 Jan 1939                AOC, RAF Cranwell

 1 Jul 1939:                  AOC, Record Office

28 Jan 1942:                AOC, No 23 Group

 7 Aug 1943:               Director-General of Personal Services.

xx xxx 1944:                Director-General of Personnel (1).