Harrison was from Co Mayo, and was in and out of Naval cells from 1920, finally deserting in Oct 1923.
He looks to have joined RASC in WW2 from the note on his RN file.
1897 Mar 21. James Francis Harrison born Castlebar, Co Mayo, Ireland
1911 Apr 2. Census at Castle Road, Ballina, Co Mayo
1913 Feb 22. enlisted aged 16 into Royal Navy as J22326 Boy Class II James Francis Harrison, Port Division Devonport. Joined HMS Impregnable a training establishment, HMS Howe was HMS Impregnable between 1911 and 1919. On List15 Supernumeraries
1913 Sep 15. Promoted to Boy Class II
1913 Sep 16. Joined HMS Crescent, a Cruiser, ex-1st-class Cruiser, Edgar-class part of the Queenstown Training Squadron. On List14 Supernumeraries borne for temporary service under training
1914 Jan 14 . Discharged from HMS Crescent at Portsmouth Harbour and joined HMS Vivid I the Navy barracks at Devonport. List 15 Supernumeraries borne for disposal, taking passage, etc.
1914 Mar 3. Joined HMS Duke of Edinburgh at Portsmouth. On List 5 Seaman Class Part II (for ratings below Petty Officer). HMS Duke of Edinburgh was the lead ship of the Duke of Edinburgh-class armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1900s. Stationed in the Mediterranean when the First World War began and participated in the pursuit of the German battlecruiser SMS Goeben and light cruiser SMS Breslau until the German ships reached Ottoman waters
1914 Mid Aug. HMS Duke of Edinburgh was sent to the Red Sea to protect troop convoys arriving from India.
1914 Dec. HMS Duke of Edinburgh was transferred to the Grand Fleet.
1915 Mar 21. promoted to Ordinary Seaman, aged 18 on a Continuous Service Engagement for12 years
1915 Sep 29. promoted to Able Seaman
1916 May 31 . HMS Duke of Edinburgh participated in the Battle of Jutland. HMS Duke of Edinburgh was not damaged during the battle and was the only ship of her squadron to survive.
1917 Aug. HMS Duke of Edinburgh transferred to the Atlantic Ocean for convoy escort duties.
1918 Mar 21 . Awarded Good Conduct Badge
1918 Apr 13. discharged from HMS Duke of Edinburgh at Glasgow and joined HMS Vivid I at Devonport. On List 15 Supernumeraries borne for disposal, taking passage, etc.
1918 Jul 11. Joined HMS Blenheim, a Destroyer Depot Ship, ex-1st-class Cruiser, Blake-class, at Malta, and served on HMS Nereide. On List 12 Men borne for service in tenders
1918 Sep 25 sentenced to 5 days in the cells. Cell Punishment was Solitary confinement in a cell on board the ship and was limited to 14 days, and lost his Good Conduct Badge, a warrant was required for the deprivation of a good conduct badge
1918 Nov 22. Re-joined HMS Blenheim, at Malta, and served on HMS Brisk. On List 12 Men borne for service in tenders. List 13(II) Permanent supernumeraries borne in addition to complement
1919 Apr 1. Restoration of Good Conduct Badge. A Good Conduct Badge lost could be regained by six months of continuous " Very Good " conduct
1919 May 24. Serving on HMS Blenheim, the Depot Ship as HMS Brisk had moved to Gibraltar. Placed on List 5 Seaman Class Part II (ratings below PO)
1919 Jun 12. Joined HMS Vivid I the Navy barracks at Devonport. List 15 Supernumeraries borne for disposal, taking passage, etc. Paid War Gratuity and awarded the1914 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Star while at HMS Vivid I
1920 Jan 20. Joined HMS Columbine a 1917 Purpose Built Torpedo Boat Destroyer Depot at Port Edgar, Queensferry, located under the Forth Bridge. Served on HMS Watchman a (D 26), V & W-class Destroyer. On List 12. Men borne for service in tenders. On List 5 Seaman Class Part II (ratings below PO)
14 April 1920 Joined HMS Vivid I the Navy barracks at Devonport. List 15 Supernumeraries borne for disposal, taking passage, etc.
25 Aug 1920 Re-joined HMS Columbine serving on HMS Venetia a (D53) V-class destroyer. On List12 Men borne for service in tenders. On List 9 men serving in the Band
1920 Dec 31. his Ability was assessed as Superior (Supr.) for the first time
1921 May 21. – 11 Aug 1921 discharged to 90 days military detention barracks at Stirling or York Castle for striking and kicking a Leading Seaman, and lost his Good Conduct Badge. If a man has been sentenced to deprivation a second time within three years, the qualification is twelve months for the first restoration, and six months for each subsequent restoration.
1921 Aug 11 Joined HMS Vivid I the Navy barracks at Devonport. List 15 Supernumeraries borne for disposal, taking passage, etc.
1921Dec 20. Joined HMS Egmont, the Royal Navy base at Fort Saint Angelo in Birgu, Malta serving on HMS Chrysanthemum a target towing ship. On List 5 Seaman Class Part II (ratings below Petty Officer)
1922 Jan 8. Joined HMS Centaur, a C-class light cruiser part of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet based at Malta. On List 5 Seaman Class Part II (ratings below Petty Officer)
1922 Sep. Chanak Crisis occurred, a war scare in between Britain and Republic of Turkey. Caused by Turkish efforts to push the Greek armies out of Turkey and restore Turkish rule in the Allied occupied territories of Turkey, primarily in Constantinople. Turkish troops marched against British and French positions in the Dardanelles neutral zone. For a time, war between Britain and Turkey seemed possible
1922 Oct 5. HMS Centaur was lying at anchor at Chanak in the stream ready to give assistance to British troops ashore
1922 Oct 6. – 14 Oct 1922 sentenced to 7 days in cells
1922 Dec 31. His Ability was again assessed as Superior (Supr.
1923 Mar 16 – 27 March 1923 sentenced to 10 days in cells
1923 Apr 5 – 27 April 1923 discharged to 21 days detention. Haidar Pasha Military Detention Barracks run by the Army was the local military detention barracks. He had refused cell punishment, which would have been limited to 14 days. Haidar Pasha is a suburb of Istanbul between Scutari (Uskudar) and Kadikoy on the Asiatic side of the Bosporus. The situation was very unstable and the Superintendent of the Haidar Pasha Detention Barracks Lieutenant Philip Chapman Royal Field Artillery had been shot dead on11 Jan 1923 he had been assassinated
1923 Jun 30. HMS Centaur arrived and left Chanak
12 July 1923 HMS Centaur left Chanak for Constantinople
13 July 1923 HMS Centaur arrived at Constantinople
16 July 1923 – 23 Aug 1923 discharged to another 42 days detention. Haidar Pasha Military Detention Barracks, for Breaking out of the ship while at Constantinople
24 July 1923 Ratification of the Treaty of Lausanne British and French forces were now withdrawn from the neutral zone
1 Sept HMS Centaur left Chanak for Malta
1923 Sept 14. HMS Centaur departed Gibraltar for Devonport
1923 Sep 18. HMS Centaur arrived at Devonport
4 Oct 1923 HMS Centaur was paid off into Reserve at Devonport
4 Oct 1923 Joined HMS Vivid I the Navy barracks at Devonport. On List 15 Supernumeraries borne for disposal, taking passage, etc.
29 Oct 1923 deserted aged 26 from HMS Vivid I at Devonport. Marked " Run " on the books on the actual day on which his absence began. He had probably had been waiting to get back to the UK before he deserted for good. His ‘Continuous Service Engagement’ was not due to end until 1927.
1923 Sale of effects approved. Effects were sold on board as soon as convenient, by auction, under the inspection of the Accountant Officer, and in the presence of an Executive Officer and an Assistant Paymaster or Clerk. The particulars of the effects, the rates for which they were sold, and other information required by the form entered in the account of sale
Desertion must have resolved at some time before or during WW2 since he served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps during WW2. Not to be claimed for further service ie: If a deserter shall be re-taken, or shall re-enter the Service, he is to commence a new time from such re-entry, and shall not be entitled to the benefit of any time preceding his desertion unless the R has been removed under Article 802
15 April 1942 Re-start of Service with Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Records offices in Leicester aged 45.
24 Aug 1943 Requests particulars of service. (R.R. & N.L.)
1 Sept 1943 Form 257 sent
Sept 1974 James Francis Harrison died aged 77 in Liverpool