The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private W Harris

Photograph by "Legsie11"

Private Walter HARRIS, 18367, 3rd Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died from influenza & pneumonia, at 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton, Sussex, 6th November 1918, age 22.

Born Grimscote, Northamptonshire, son of John William Archbold and Dinah Harris, of Potcote, Towcester, Northamptonshire.

1911 Census - Grimscote, Towcester, Northamptonshire - John William Archbold Harris, head, age 52, married, agricultural labourer, on farm, worker, born Grimscote, Northamptonshire; Dinah Harris, wife, age 52, married 31 years, 12 children, all still alive, born Stowe IX Churches, Northamptonshire; Walter Harris, son, age 14, agricultural labourer, on farm, worker, born Grimscote, Northamptonshire; Reginald Harris, son, age 12, school, born Grimscote, Northamptonshire; Francis Robert Harris, son, age 10, school, born Grimscote, Northamptonshire; Alexander Harris, son, age 6, born Grimscote, Northamptonshire.

Enlisted Northampton, age 19 years & 11 months, height 5ft 6 inches, weight 128lbs. Resided Polcock C?H?, Towcester, Northamptonshire. Formerly farm labourer.

Separation Allowance of 5/11 a week paid to mother.

Home 4th March 1916 to 4th August 1916; BEF 5th August 1916 to 13th November 1916; Home 14th November 1916 to 6th November 1918.

4th March 1916, called up for Service; 6th March 1916, posted 2/5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, Service No.3985; 20th July 1916, Rye, absent without leave from 12.00 noon till 10.10pm 20th July, 7 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 1 days pay; 2nd August 1916, Folkestone, embarked; 2nd August 1916, Boulogne, disembarked; 3rd August 1916, Etaples, 40 Infantry Base Depot; 5th August 1916, posted BEF, Territorial Force France; 11th August 1916, attached to 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment; 20th August 1916,unfit for service at Front; 22nd August 1916, Etaples, 40 Infantry Base Depot; 9th October 1916, transferred to 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 29th October 1916, wounded, concussion; 14th November 1916, to England ex 10 General Hospital, Rouen; 14th November 1916, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 30th December 1916, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 16th January 1917 to 30th January 1917, Drill Hall Hospital, Chatham, rest, transferred to Meadow Road?, Chatham?; 30th January 1917 to 23rd March 1917, Meadow Road?, Chatham? rest, severe headaches at times, insomnia, giddiness; 29th March 197 to 10th April 1917, Fort Pitt, Chathasm, recovered; 8th July 1917, Fort Horsted, overstaying pass from 9.30pm till 7.00am on 9th July, 3 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 1 days pay; 10th August 1917, Lewes, leaving Parade without permission, not complying with an order, 5 days confined to Barracks; 27th September 1917, transferred to 696th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps, Service No.498644; 1st November 1917 to 24th December 1917, Borough Sanatorium, Brighton, diphtheria; 17th January 1918 to 26th January 1918, Military Hospital, Chichester, debility?; 26th January 1918 to 16th March 1918, Convalescent Hospital, Eastbourne, diphtheria; 31st October 1918, 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton, Sussex, very ill with influenza; 1st November 1918, 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton, Sussex, diagnosed with pneumonia; 4th November 1918, 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton, Sussex, delirious, temperature 104 & incontinent; 5th November 1918, 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton, Sussex, showed signs of cardiac failure; 6th November 1918, 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton, Sussex, pulseless, died 21.45, cardiac failure.

4th December 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, John William Archbold Harris, Potcote, Towcester; Mother, Dinah Harris, Potcote, Towcester; Brothers - John W P Harris, age 37, Ramsey, Hampshire; Frederick J Harris, age 33, 5 Wilmeston Street, Northampton; Sydney Harris, age 30, Potcote, Towcester; Reginald Harris, age 21, Potcote, Towcester; Francis R Harris, age 19, Potcote, Towcester; Alexander Harris, age 14, Potcote, Towcester; Half Blood Brothers - William Howard, age 45, Banbury Lane, Rothersthorpe, Northamptonshire; William Furness, age 28, 33 Abbey Street, Rugby; Sisters - Amy E Howard, age 41, Banbury Lane, Rothersthorpe, Northamptonshire; Agnes L Furness, age 27, 33 Abbey Street, Rugby; Allice Harris, age 39, Rugby; Florence Harris, age 34, Ramsey, Hampshire; Elsie Harris, age 28, 5 Wilmeston Street, Northampton.

Buried at Cold Higham, St Luke, Churchyard, 541, Northamptonshire.

NOTE: Not included in Regimental History.

This page was last updated on 24-Sep-2019.