John Thomas Harriss

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 24/01/2017 - 11:53

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Thomas

Last Name:

Harriss

Alternate Spelling:

Harris

Mother's Name:

Ellen Harriss nee Kearney

Father's Name:

Patrick Harriss

Date Enlisted:

Sunday, July 25, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

2nd Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, July 25, 1917

Place of Death:

London, England

Cause of Death:

died of wounds

Details:

John Thomas Harriss (Service No 2929), was born in Sydney, N.S.W., in 1897.

At enlistment, he was single, 18 years old, worked as a labourer, lived in Bellambi, N.S.W. and had served 4 years with the Cadets.

John embarked on HMAT A8 Argyllshire, with 2nd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement, on 30th September 1915, arriving in France on 28th March 1916.

He saw service on the Western Front with 2nd Battalion, D Company, until he was wounded in action on 8th November 1916. John was admitted to hospital for treatment of a gun shot wound to his right arm. He returned to his unit on 14th May 1917.

John was admitted to hospital with trench fever, on 26th July 1917 and sent to London for treatment. On 24th September 1917, while recovering, he was outside the Italian Hospital, in Queens Square, London, with a group of patients and nurses when an enemy air raid took place. A bomb exploded and injured a number of people sheltering in a doorway from the attack. John suffered multiple wounds, and while treatment was instant, his wounds were too severe and he died peacefully at 8 am.

John was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England, with full Military Honors.

Plot XI, Row D, Grave 23.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, HARRIS J T