HARRIS, Alexander Martin
| Service Number: | 1251 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 August 1915, Brisbane, Qld. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Dunfermline, Scotland, 1894 |
| Home Town: | Mount Gravatt, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Memorials: | Holland Park Mount Gravatt Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1251, 11th Light Horse Regiment, Brisbane, Qld. | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 1251, 11th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 1251, 11th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Ian Lang
Son of Robert Harris, Broadwater Nursery, Mount Gravatt, Brisbane, Queensland
Alex Harris enlisted on the 26th August 1915. His attestation papers indicate that he had been born in Dumferline, Scotland. At enlistment he was 21years old, a farmer. His next of kin is listed as his mother; Mrs I. Harris of Broadwater Nursery, Mount Gravatt, although a later addition lists his sister; Annie Harris of Logan Road Woolloongabba.
Alex embarked for Egypt on the “Hawkes Bay” in Sydney on 23rd October 1915 as a reinforcement for the 11th Light Horse Regiment. By the time Alex arrived in Egypt, the AIF was going through an expansion. The infantry divisions and accompanying artillery and support units were to be sent to the Western Front. The Light Horse would remain in Egypt to defend the Suez Canal.
Alex was first drafted into the 3rd Training Regiment of the Light Horse and on 23rd June 1916 was posted to the 3rd Double Squadron LHR. By November he had transferred to the 4th Camel Regiment. At this time the Light Horse and Camel regiments were engaged in actions in the Sinai, having seen off the Turkish threat to the canal.
Alex’s war history is very confusing, with numerous transfers to other units during 1917 and 1918. He was hospitalised several times for infectious disease and had several incidents of Venereal Disease. It appears that he spent the majority of 1917 and 1918 in and around the Cairo area as a driver, whilst the Light Horse advanced through Palestine and into Syria.
At the conclusion of the war, Alex had to wait some time before being repatriated back to Australia. He was discharged from the army on 29th October 1919, almost four years since embarking in Sydney.