According to Eric Gray, while at Coleshill, Captain Harston had his wife staying in a caravan at the bottom of the estate.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Transport Office | Motor Transport Officer | 1940 | 1941 |
| Devon | Intelligence Officer | 08 Nov 1943 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Suffolk | Intelligence Officer | 12 Dec 1940 | 02 Apr 1941 |
| Essex | Intelligence Officer | 12 Dec 1940 | 31 Dec 1940 |
| De Cymru | Intelligence Officer | 27 Sep 1944 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| South Wales | Intelligence Officer | 27 Sep 1944 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Ashburton, Devon | Intelligence Officer | 08 Nov 1943 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Sir Fynwy | Intelligence Officer | 27 Sep 1944 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Monmouthshire | Intelligence Officer | 27 Sep 1944 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Herefordshire | Intelligence Officer | 27 Sep 1944 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Worcestershire | Intelligence Officer | 27 Sep 1944 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Cornwall | Intelligence Officer | 27 Sep 1944 | 03 Dec 1944 |
| Somerset | Intelligence Officer | 27 Sep 1944 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Yarlet Hall preparatory school, Stafford
Sherborne School, Dorset 1913-17
R.M.C Sandhurst
Headmaster
28 Sep 1917 Entered Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
19 Aug 1918 Completed Royal Military Academy course.
11 Sep 1918 Commissioned into the Dorset Regiment.
13 May 1919 - Oct 1919 Part of the North Russian Relief Force. Volunteers from the Dorset Regiment were formed into ‘Y’ Company 2nd Battallion Hampshire Regiment and served at Kurgomen in block houses.
21 Feb 1920 Promoted Lieutenant
25 Feb 1922 Relinquished rank [joining the Regular Army Reserve of Officers (Class II)].
8 Dec 1939 re-enlistment at Westminster.
1 Sept – 25 Nov 1940 Infantry Training Centre Dorset Regiment as Lieutenant.
25 Nov 1940 Posted to H.Q Auxiliary Units C/o Highworth Post Office
11 Dec 1940 promoted to Captain. Appointed Intelligence Officer in East Anglia having taken over from Captain Croft.
1 Jan 1941 Relinquished appointment of Intelligence Officer.
1 Jan 1941 Appointed General Staff Order III at GHQ Coleshill.
Mar 1941 Appointed Motor Transport Officer at GHQ Coleshill.
1940 - 1943 Unarmed combat instructor at GHQ Coleshill (page 79 of ‘Last Ditch’).
12 Mar 1942 Appointed Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General (DAQMG) at GHQ Coleshill.
12 Jun 1942 Promoted War Substantive Captain and Temporary Major.
8 Nov 1943 Appointed Intelligence Officer for Devon.
Apr 1944 Relinquished rank of Temporary Major.
14 Oct 1944 until stand down appointed Intelligence Officer number area 4 (Devon to Wales)
22 Apr 1949 Relinquished his commission due to age and is given the Honorary Rank of Major.
Born in Brockton, Staffordshire to Bank manager Percival Hanbury Harston and Emily Elizabeth (nee Welchman). He married 5 Apr 1929 Janet Lucy Bond in Hampstead, Middlesex and they had Elizabeth P B in 1930 in Yarlet Hall School, Stafford and Janet G in 1933 Aldwick School in Uckfield, Sussex.
In 1939 he is the Headmaster at the Aldwick Grange Preparatory School, Boars Head, near Crowborough, Uckfield, Sussex. It appears the couple owned the school which was closed and the contents sold in April 1941. He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
On 1 Oct 1943 the Western Moring News is running a wanted advert for accommodation in Devon for Major Harston and his family moving from Highworth from November onwards.
In Nov 1944 he writes letters to all Area Commanders suggesting they set up an Association in their area for Auxiliers to stay in touch. At that time he is living at Rowbrook House, Poundsgate, Devon.
He died in Sway, Hampshire.
Part II Orders No.39
The National Archives WO199
Eric Gray
Somerset Heritage Centre ref DD\SLI/12/2/26
MOD Service records