George Joseph Harris
From Our Contribution
 Courtesy Ann Chivers | |
 Courtesy Ann Chivers George on left, Albert right | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1891 |
| Place of Birth | Arthur River near Wagin, Western Australia |
| Death | 1974 |
| Place of Death | Narrogin, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 25 years, 5 months |
| Description |
5'8" (1.72m) tall ; 143lbs 64.864 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Wagin, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr George Albert Harris |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 7262 |
| Date of Enlistment | 14 Nov 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Battalion, 24th Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 29 Jan 1917 ‒ 27 Mar 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A28 Miltiades Fremantle to Devonport |
| Date of Return | 7 Feb 1919 ‒ 11 Mar 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Lancashire |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Gosnells Primary School Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Had attended the Gosnells Primary School. In 1913 his father was an orchardist on Albany road, Gosnells with his second wife Margaret Wilkinson who had a son John Wilkinson, hence his entry on Gosnells Honour Roll.
War Service
Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 14 Nov 1916 and was allocated to the 94th Depot Company. Two weeks later he was transferred to the 24th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, travelling with them to England aboard HMAT A28 Miltiades where they disembarked in Devonport on 27 Mar 1917. On arrival in England he was sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington. Following 6 months training in England, George proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on 9 Oct 1917, and on 16 Oct 1917 he was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion, having arrived in their camp the day before along with 93 other reinforcements.
On 12 Jan 1918 he was seen by the 2nd Field Ambulance who treated him for Trench Feet. Passed on to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station who treated him until his release and return to his unit on 4 Feb 1918. However, on 12 Mar 1918 he was again in need of medical attention and was seen first by the 1st Field Ambulance before being treated by the 2nd Field Ambulance from 13 - 28 Mar 1918 and then the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station from 28 Mar 1918 until 31 Mar 1918 when he was admitted to the 2nd Canadian Stationary Hospital in Calais. On 2 Apr 1918 he was embarked on the HS Jan Breydel for England with Laryngitis. Admitted the same day to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital with Tachycardia - slight. (Fast or irregular heart beat). George was released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 6 May 1918, and following further treatment he was sent to the No 2 Command Depot at Dartford on 14 May 1918 which the same day transferred him to Weymouth on 14 May 1918.
From 25 Oct 1918 until 26 Dec 1918 George was treated for Gonorrhoea in the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford. He had first received treatment for Venereal Disease 12 months earlier at Larkhill. (Non effective service was 63 days). George returned to Australia on SS Lancashire where he was admitted to the 8th Australian General Hospital in Fremantle. Here he was charged with being AWOL from 10:00am on 10 Apr 1919 until 10:00am on 11 Apr 1919. He was admonished and lost a day's pay. George was discharged by the 5th Military District on 15 May 1919.
Post War
During 1923 George married Susan Watkins in Katanning.
Notes
While George's Military records make no mention of a Gosnells connection, he and his brother Albert John Harris are listed on the Gosnells Primary School Honour Roll as ex students who served overseas.