http://www.hullfc.com/news/2017-04-04-p ... -announced

Plans for Harrison Centenary Tribute Announced

Hull is set to honour war hero and former rugby league player John ‘Jack’ Harrison VC MC with a series of commemorative events over the coming weeks.

Hull FC, in partnership with Hull City Council and the Armed Forces, will celebrate and commemorate the life, career and bravery of one of the city’s greatest heroes, a century on from Harrison being posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in 1917.

The former rugby star, Sutton resident and Lime Street School teacher was killed in action during World War One in May 1917 at Oppy Wood, France.

His final action to silence a machine gun post as he led his troops into No Man’s Land posthumously earned him the Victoria Cross, having already received the Military Cross several months earlier.

He was commissioned as Temporary 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 11th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment (Hull Tradesmen) 6 Platoon.

Prior to active service, Harrison was a Challenge Cup winner with Hull Rugby League Club in 1913 as a free-flowing try-scoring winger, who to this day still holds the club record for the most tries scored in a season with 52.

In total, he scored a remarkable 106 tries in 116 matches before his final game on Boxing Day 1916 and became the first sportsman to earn the Victoria Cross.

In tribute to Harrison, the city will now host and coordinate a series of events and activity to mark the 100-year commemoration, including the display and laying of a commemorative paving stone.

The paving stone, provided by the Department of Communities and Local Government, will be on display as part of a Jack Harrison exhibit at the Hull History Centre throughout April.

It will sit alongside replicas of his war medals, before being officially laid at Sutton War Memorial as part of a formal memorial service at St James Church, Sutton, on Sunday 7th May.

Simultaneous commemoration services will also take place exactly 100 years since his death on 3rd May in Oppy Wood as well as at the Cenotaph in Hull at 11am, whilst pupils at his former school, now Malet Lambert School, will hold a two-minute silence.

A day earlier, The Freedom Flame and All For One Choir will perform a choral piece at sun rise reciting the names of all who fell at that time.

The Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull, Councillor Sean Chaytor unveiled the commemorative paver and said: “We want to commemorate one of Hull’s bravest respectfully, with dignity and pride, as well as showing our support for Veterans and those in the Armed Forces.

“Jack Harrison is one of Hull’s most notable sons and it is only right we host a series of events to commemorate his life and the sacrifices both he and his fellow soldiers made.”

Hull FC will kick off the week’s events with the Jack Harrison Centenary fixture in April - to find out more click here

- See more at: http://www.hullfc.com/news/2017-04-04-p ... LfS47.dpuf

http://www.hullfc.com/news/2017-04-04-p ... -announced

Plans for Harrison Centenary Tribute Announced

Hull is set to honour war hero and former rugby league player John ‘Jack’ Harrison VC MC with a series of commemorative events over the coming weeks.

Hull FC, in partnership with Hull City Council and the Armed Forces, will celebrate and commemorate the life, career and bravery of one of the city’s greatest heroes, a century on from Harrison being posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in 1917.

The former rugby star, Sutton resident and Lime Street School teacher was killed in action during World War One in May 1917 at Oppy Wood, France.

His final action to silence a machine gun post as he led his troops into No Man’s Land posthumously earned him the Victoria Cross, having already received the Military Cross several months earlier.

He was commissioned as Temporary 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 11th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment (Hull Tradesmen) 6 Platoon.

Prior to active service, Harrison was a Challenge Cup winner with Hull Rugby League Club in 1913 as a free-flowing try-scoring winger, who to this day still holds the club record for the most tries scored in a season with 52.

In total, he scored a remarkable 106 tries in 116 matches before his final game on Boxing Day 1916 and became the first sportsman to earn the Victoria Cross.

In tribute to Harrison, the city will now host and coordinate a series of events and activity to mark the 100-year commemoration, including the display and laying of a commemorative paving stone.

The paving stone, provided by the Department of Communities and Local Government, will be on display as part of a Jack Harrison exhibit at the Hull History Centre throughout April.

It will sit alongside replicas of his war medals, before being officially laid at Sutton War Memorial as part of a formal memorial service at St James Church, Sutton, on Sunday 7th May.

Simultaneous commemoration services will also take place exactly 100 years since his death on 3rd May in Oppy Wood as well as at the Cenotaph in Hull at 11am, whilst pupils at his former school, now Malet Lambert School, will hold a two-minute silence.

A day earlier, The Freedom Flame and All For One Choir will perform a choral piece at sun rise reciting the names of all who fell at that time.

The Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull, Councillor Sean Chaytor unveiled the commemorative paver and said: “We want to commemorate one of Hull’s bravest respectfully, with dignity and pride, as well as showing our support for Veterans and those in the Armed Forces.

“Jack Harrison is one of Hull’s most notable sons and it is only right we host a series of events to commemorate his life and the sacrifices both he and his fellow soldiers made.”

Hull FC will kick off the week’s events with the Jack Harrison Centenary fixture in April - to find out more click here

- See more at: http://www.hullfc.com/news/2017-04-04-p ... LfS47.dpuf