Albert John Harris

Albert John Harris

Courtesy Ann Chivers
Courtesy Ann Chivers - George on left, Albert right
Personal Information
Date of Birth	1894
Place of Birth	Wagin, Western Australia
Death	15 Nov 1971, aged 77
Place of Death	"Sunset" Men's Home, Nedlands, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	23 years, 3 months
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall ; 145lbs 65.771 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Arthur River, near Wagin, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr George Albert Harris
Military Information
Reg Number	3071
Date of Enlistment	27 Oct 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, 7th Reinforcements
Date of Embarkation	29 Jan 1917 ‒ 27 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades Fremantle to Devonport
Date of Return	29 Jul 1919 ‒ 27 Sep 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Main London to Fremantle
Fate	WIA 5 Oct 1917 Broodseinde Return to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Primary School Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Had attended the Gosnells Primary School

War Service

Enlisted in Bunbury, and entered Blackboy Hill camp on 27 Oct 1916. Following basic training he was allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion on 24 Jan 1917, and sailed on 29 Jan 1917 for England aboard HMAT A28 Miltiades.

Disembarking in Devonport on 27 Mar 1917, he was sent to the AIF Details camp in Fovant on 28 Mar 1917 before being allocated to the 11th Training Battalion on 18 Apr 1917 to prepare for service in France. The next day he was admitted to the Tidworth Military Hospital with measles and was released back to his training unit on 4 May 1917. On 20 Aug 1917 Albert proceeded overseas to France through Southampton, and spent the first week in the 3rd Division's Base Depot at Le Havre. On 1 Sep 1917 he was taken on strength by the 44th Battalion which was in rear areas behind Poperinghe rebuilding and training.

They remained there for all of September 1917, moving back into the front line positions late in the month and participated in the battle known as Broodseinde, attacking high ground to the south east of Ypres held by the Germans. Albert was wounded on 5 Oct 1917, after the battalion had secured their objectives, and before they were relieved on the night of 5th/6th Oct 1917. Casualties, including Albert's were caused by enemy shelling.

Albert's wounds were to the side of his body. He was treated first by the 11th Field Ambulance, and passed the next day to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. On 7 Oct 1917 he was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne with shrapnel wounds to left shoulder and buttock. On 11 Oct 1917 he was placed on HS Jan Breydel for England where he was admitted to the Middlesex War Hospital in Clacton-on-Sea with shrapnel wounds now described as being to his left leg and buttock. On 29 Oct 1917 he had recovered enough to be released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford.

November and December 1917 were spent gaining strength at Command Depots in Hurdcott and Weymouth before he was reclassified and sent to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill on 11 Apr 1918. On 8 May 1918 he returned to France via Folkestone and rejoined the 44th Battalion on 10 May 1918. Albert saw out the rest of the hostilities with the 44th Battalion, remaining with them until 13 Mar 1919 when he was transferred to the Australian Corps Workshops as a cook. On 14 May 1919 he returned to England Codford to prepare for his return to Australia where he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 17 Jan 1920.

Post War

Did not marry.

Notes

While Albert's Military records make no mention of a Gosnells connection, he and his brother George Joseph Harris are listed on the Gosnells Primary School Honour Roll as ex students who served overseas.

External Links

[[Category:Born Australia]