4038 Private HARRIS Norman Page
4038 Private HARRIS Norman Page 3rd Infantry Battalion 12th Reinforcements
Enlisted 22.7.1915 Liverpool, KIA 5.10.17 Ypres, Belgium.
Norman Page Harris was born 21.12.1895 at “Spring Farm”, Temora Rd, Young, the second son of William Harris, a farmer and Lucy née Whitechurch. He and the third son Frederick Charles Harris were baptised at St John’s church, Young on 4 July 1899, by ‘N.H.P’. Norman attended Milong school.
Norman Page HARRIS enlisted 22.7.1915 with his eldest brother William John Harris. His age was 19 years 7 months, a labourer, not married, he had not done any prior service because he was in an ‘exempt area’ (farming, supplying food for the nation, which meant he did not have to enlist!) He signed ‘NP Harris’ 23.7.1915.
Like his brother Willy, he was recorded as a ‘native of Young district’, and a ‘Natural born British subject’. No permission letters from parents are filed even though he was only 19.
Norman’s ‘Description on enlistment’ on 23.7.15, was complexion ruddy, eyes hazel, good; hair brown, Religion ‘Bapt’
Norman’s Certificate of Medical Examination was dated 22.7.15, Sydney. The ‘Certificate of Attesting Officer’ and the Oath were signed at Liverpool, 23.7.1915. Norman must have gone on ‘extended sick leave’ soon after entering camp. (He was recovering from pneumonia when Willy died on 27.9.1915).
He was farewelled on 23.1.1915 at Milong School and presented with ‘a solid silver military wristlet watch, with luminous dial, set of military brushes in case, and purse of silver to provide himself with a sheepskin vest,’ and then returned to Liverpool camp.
On 30.12.1915 he ‘embarked at Sydney' on HMAT A7 MEDIC, departing 7.1.16 after being appointed to 3rd Battalion 12th Reinforcement on 5.1.16. On 17.3.16 he was ‘Taken on Strength’ at Serapeum (Egypt), and on 22.3.16 embarked on HMTS GRAMPIAN, ex Alexandria to join the BEF (British Expeditionary Force). On 28.3.16 he disembarked at Marseilles, France.
On 22.7.1915, or soon after, he was ‘Wounded in Action’ in France. (POZIÈRES) ‘GSW head’... and on 25/26th admitted to hospital at Le Treport. On 2.8.16 he was ‘Transfd from No7 CanG.Hosp to No3Con Depot at Le Treport. On 4.8.16 he was ‘Discharged to Duty to Base’ and marched into Etaples next day. On 18.8.1916 a cable was sent to W. Harris ‘Regret ... son Private Norman P. Harris wounded....’ and the reply to Lucy’s 3.9.1916 letter on 19.9.1916 was ‘nature of wounding and what hospital not known here’!
On 8 October Norman rejoined his Unit in the field in Belgium but just one day later was ‘Wounded in Action, Belgium’, Reninghelst? near Ypres, ‘2nd occasion’, ‘Adm 2ndAF Amb’, ‘SW L thigh’ and transferred to CCS, Belgium, then on 12 October 3rd CanGH, Boulogne and embarked on HS Panama to England next day. (BW Thigh/ Bomb wd L/thigh)
On 15/18.10.16 he was ‘Adm 3rd Lond Gen Hosp Wandsworth BW L Thigh’/R thigh.
On 31.10.16 notice was sent to Norman’s father: ‘... Private N.P. Harris was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital on 15.10.16 suffering from ‘bomb wound thigh (which thigh NOT STATED), mild (Wounded 2nd occasion.)’ On 1.11.16 Trans from 3rd Lon Gen Hos to 2nd Aux Hosp gsw l thigh [BuWd L/Leg (thigh)]. On 4.11.16 Disch from 2nd Aux Hosp to Wareham. (BuWd L/Thigh/ bwrthigh). So which thigh was injured and how is not clear.
It was a very tough time for Norman in April / May 1917 at Wareham, knowing he was to be sent back to the front after having been injured twice. He went AWL (2-14.4.1917), suffered scabies (19-24.4.1917), rejoined his Unit 27.4.1917, then went AWL twice more (2-3.5.1917 and 14-29.5.1917). For these three quite out of character AWLs he was first awarded 8 days detention and was in custody awaiting trial 1 day with total forfeiture 22 days pay, £5.10.0; next:7 days detention and was in custody awaiting trial 3 days with total forfeiture 12 days pay, £3.0.0; last:16 days detention, and he was in custody awaiting trial 9 days with total forfeiture 41 days pay, $10.5.0.
On 13.7.1917 Norman wrote his Will, leaving everything to his mother. A week later he marched out from ‘No4 ComDep’ Codford England, ‘to o/seas tng Btn Perham Downs’ and on 4.8.1917 from there proceeded via Folkestone overseas to France. He had been in England recovering for over 9 months.
On 6.8.1917 he ‘marched into Havre from England’ and on 21.8.1917 he ‘rejoined 3rd Btn in France’ (from wounded). 45 days later he was dead. On 4.10.17 he was ‘wounded in action’, ‘in the field’, in the front line, (‘3rd occasion’), Ypres, Belgium near Anzac Trench. (Appears to be in the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge.)
On 5.10.17 he was ‘Adm 3rd AFAmb’ and ‘Trans to 10CasCStn’ and that day ‘DIED OF WOUNDS ‘sustained in action,’ ‘Shrap wds’ both thighs, at 10th Casualty Clearing Station, Belgium. KIA. He was BURIED in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 20, Row H, Grave 6A. The Anglican clergy informed NOK of his death.
Norman’s personal‘effects, religious book, photos, cards, letters’, were sent to ‘LEGATEE’ Mrs Lucy Harris on 4.2.18 from the Gilgai ex 3rd Echelon France. (Received 19.9.18)
His awards: Memorial Scroll and Kings Message, Memorial Plaque or Death Penny and Victory Medal (received by W. Harris) and 1914/ 15 Star and British War Medal.
He is remembered on the marble headstone for his bother William John Harris at Young Cemetery and with brother on the brass cross now kept at Hampstead Church (See photos for William John Harris), at St John’s, Young, St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn, AWM (N.P. Harris, Panel 36), Milong School Honour Board, and at Young Town Hall.
Detail: Young Town Hall Foyer: THE TOWN AND DISTRICT’S TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO VOLUNTEERED ... N.P. Harris and Jas W. Harris (incorrectly), but not W. J. Harris. Detail: Young Town Hall Foyer: IN MEMORY OF THE HEROIC DEAD ERECTED BY COMRADES showing two Harris names...N.P. and James W. Harris (incorrectly) but not W.J. Harris. NO James W. Harris or Jas.W Harris enlisted from Young: Honour Roll of Milong Public School. ‘In honour of the old boys of this school who served the Empire in the Great War....’ Detail of RH panel: Harris N.P. killed...Harris W.J. deceased... (now in Young Museum) References: Young Witness, Young Chronicle, War records for Private Norman Page Harris, Unit diaries, St John’s Baptisms 1864-1922, p.138, Nos 440, 441. (William John is p. 92).
