The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private R J Harris

Private Robert James HARRIS, G/10688, 3rd Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, attached 15887, 22nd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), killed in action, Flanders, France, 27th August 1916, age 19.

Born Deal, Kent, son of William Edward and Clara Eliza Harris (nee Erridge), of 4, Alfred Square, Deal, Kent.

28th August 1897, St Andrews Church, Deal, Kent, baptism of Robert James Harris, son of William Edward and Clara Eliza Harris.

1911 Census - 4, Alfred Square, Deal, Kent - William E Harris, head, age 43, married, general labourer, F F Denne, Walmer, worker, born Canterbury, Kent; Clara E Harris, wife, age 43, married 26 years, 13 children, 10 still alive, born Deal, Kent; Patrick G Harris, son age 15, single, office boy, W H Smiths & Sons, worker, born Deal, Kent; Robert J Harris, son, age 13, news / errand boy, worker, born Deal, Kent; Sydney D Harris, son, age 5, school boy, born Deal, Kent; William T Harris, son, age 22, single, Royal Marines Light Infantry, HMS Actacon?, Sheerness, born Deal, Kent; Thomas H Harris, son, age 19, Stoker Royal Navy, Royal Navy Barracks, Chatham, born Deal, Kent; Ada G Harris, daughter, age 7, school girl, born Deal, Kent; Hilda C Harris, daughter, age 2.

Enlisted Ramsgate, Kent, age 19 years & 73 days, height 5ft 3 inches, weight 105lbs. Resided 4, Alfred Square, Deal, Kent. Formerly labourer.

Home, 1st November 1915 to 16th July 1916; BEF, 17th July 1916 to 27th August 1916.

1st November 1915, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 11th November 11915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st January 1916, transferred to Machine Gun Corps; 17th July 1916 posted Overseas with 2nd Machine Gun Corps.

30th September 1916 letter from Lieutenant Gordon Wills to Clara Harris - I am very sorry to tell you that your son has been killed in action. I'm afraid I can give you very little information as I have only recently joined this Company. he was killed instantly and painlessly, by a shell on the sight of Deville Wood. it was the first time that he had been in action and he was acting as a spare man and carrying ammunition which is always dangerous work. he behaved very well in action and was a brave man. he was buried by our own men and the Germans have never been near his last resting place since. I am sorry I can tell you no more and respectfully offer my deepest sympathy.

19th August 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, William Edward Harris, 4, Alfred Square, Deal, Kent; Mother, Clara Eliza Harris, 4, Alfred Square, Deal, Kent; Brothers - William Thomas, age 30, RMLI; Thomas Henry, age 28, stoker Royal Navy; Patrick George, age 24, South Lambeth, London; Sydney Dennis, age 13, 4, Alfred Square, Deal, Kent; Sisters - Sarah Ann Magee?, age 34, 40 Frederick Road, Gillingham, Kent; Clara Eliza Jones, age 32, Canada; Florence C? Leaving?, age 26, 50 Frederick Road, Gillingham, Kent; Ada G Harris, age 15, 4, Alfred Square, Deal, Kent; Hilda C Harris, age 11, 4, Alfred Square, Deal, Kent.

Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 11C, Somme, France & Deal & Walmer Memorial Hospital.

This page was last updated on 20-Sep-2019.