The following obituary for Robert Hastings Harris appeared in the Times newspaper.

Obituary in the Times newspaper
Date	Obituary
26 August 1926	ADMIRAL SIR R.H. HARRIS. THE NAVAL GUNS IN SOUTH AFRICA. We regret to announce that Admiral Sir Robert Hastings Harris died yesterday at Yelverton, near Plymouth, at the age of 83. He had a sea career extending over 52 years, starting in 1856 as naval cadet, aged 12, and ending as an admiral on the Active List in 1908, when he was retired on reaching the age limit of 65. He saw service in every executive rank, and was actively concerned in the naval operations during the Cretan troubles of 1897, and during the South African War in 1899-1901, when he was Commander-in-Chief at the Cape. The son of Captain Robert Harris, who served in the Royal Navy from 1822 to 1865, the late admiral was born on October 12, 1843. and at ten years of age was sent to the Royal Naval School, then at New Cross, for two years. Receiving a nomination as a naval cadet, he was appointed to the Victory; but his father, then commanding the Illustrious, training ship for young seamen. applied for permission to have him in the latter vessel, where he spent a year under instruction with the "novices," as they were called. A cruise in the training brig Sealark followed. This unusual course — the custom at the time being for cadets to go straight to sea, without preliminary instruction — had an interesting sequel, the late admiral's father being directed in 1857 to prepare a scheme for the training of cadets, which he did in collaboration with the Rev. R.M. Inskip, naval instructor of the Victory. The proposals being approved, the Illustrious was turned into a cadets' training ship, and was the predecessor of the Britannia, for so many years employed on this duty at Dartmouth. After serving in the 70-gun sailing ship Cumberland, flagship of Sir Provo Wallis in South America, and the 91-gun screw ship Caesar, in the West Indies, Harris had the good fortune to be appointed to the 51-gun frigate Euryalus, in which he was shipmate with Prince Alfred, afterwards Duke of Edinburgh, who was a naval cadet on board. While in the St. George, 91-gun ship, in the Mediterranean, he was promoted to acting lieutenant in a death vacancy, and confirmed in the rank as from March, 1863. His service in this capacity was interesting and varied, but comparatively uneventful, and in June, 1870, he was promoted to commander in a "haul down vacancy" when Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Symonds, to whom he had been flag-lieutenant, relinquished command of the Channel Squadron. A period of 18 months as commander of the Achilles, screw ironclad, was followed by his appointment in command of the gunboat Elk, in China, from which he returned home to command the Coastguard Division at Scarborough. In 1877 he recommissioned the sloop Argus at Bermuda, and on the paying off of that vessel in December, 1879, was promoted to captain. A pleasant period as captain of the Indian troopship Malabar was his first employment after this advancement, but in 1885 Admiral Sir Vesey Hamilton, his old captain in the Achilles, became Commander-in-Chief in China, and appointed Harris as his flag-captain in the Audacious, where he served for three years. He was next employed in command of the Northampton and the Collingwood during naval manoeuvres, and in September, 1889, became inspecting captain of boys' training ships, this appointment being followed by that of commodore commanding the training squadron in 1893-95. His inherited interest in the training service, coupled with his practical experience, made his tenure of these two appointments very successful. On January 1, 1895, he became a rear-admiral, and in May of the following year hoisted his flag as rear-admiral in the Mediterranean Fleet, his flagship for most of the time being the battleship Revenge. During the pacification of Crete he was appointed to represent Great Britain in the Council of Admirals from February, 1897, to February, 1898, and for his services was awarded the K.C.M.G. He was then appointed to command the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station, and returned to England from Suda Bay before proceeding to Cape Town, where he hoisted his flag in the Doris on relieving Sir Harry Rawson. On the dispatch of President Kruger's ultimatum, the Admiralty ordered Sir Robert to devote his chief attention to the protection of the seaport towns of Cape Colony and Natal, and affirmed that it was undesirable that his vessels should be weakened by landing men or guns to assist the land forces. Very soon he received an urgent request from the general at Cape Town, backed up by Sir Alfred Milner, for two naval field guns and some men to proceed at once to Stormberg. He promptly dispatched the guns, with seamen crews, and 100 Marines as escort, the whole being under Commander Ethelston. of the Powerful, of which Captain (afterwards Admiral Sir) Percy Scott was in command. This course was eventually approved by the Admiralty, and proved to be the thin edge of the wedge, for at various times there were sent to the front during Sir Robert Harris's period in command 74 naval guns, in-clouding 21 4.7in, and one 6in. He also had at one period 1,400 officers and men landed to work this artillery. After Paardeberg, Lord Roberts asked the Admiral to take charge of Cronje and place him for safe custody on board a warship, and Sir Robert accordingly had him in his own cabin in the Doris for about two months until he was removed to St. Helena. In October, 1900, Sir Robert received the K.C.B. in recognition of his services during the war, and was promoted to vice-admiral. After enjoying a quiet two years on half-pay, Harris was appointed, in October, 1903, to be President of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich, where he served for three years, being promoted to full admiral in the meantime. This was his last active appointment, and, on October 12, 1908, he was retired on reaching the age limit. He employed some of his leisure in compiling a very readable volume of memoirs, entitled "From Naval Cadet to Admiral," which was published in 1913, and which revealed him as a keen sportsman, in addition to his other activities. While Commander-in-Chief at the Cape, for instance, he managed to make a total catch of fish with a rod and line, excluding sharks, of 2,469lb., the largest fish scaling 84lb. and the average weight being nearly 14lb. He expressed the hope, indeed, that his narrative would show "what a very pleasant, healthy and engrossing life it is possible to enjoy while serving one's Sovereign and country afloat in a man-of-war." Sir Robert married a sailor's daughter, Florence, whose father was Commander W.E. Henn-Gennys, R.N., and leaves two sons and five daughters.