HARRISON, John James Irwin
| Service Number: | 1172 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Shoeing-Smith |
| Last Unit: | 10th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia , 30 July 1878 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farrier |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Egypt, 15 August 1916, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Said War Memorial Cemetery Row O, Grave No. 4. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Fremantle 849 Memorial, Kings Park 10th Light Horse Regiment Memorial WA, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, Pemberton Honour Board, Pemberton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1172, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Sep 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1172, 10th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Anchises, Fremantle | |
| 15 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3rd Light Horse Regiment | |
| 15 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Shoeing-Smith, 1172, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John James Irwin Harrison was born in Sandhurst, Victoria during 1879. He was a son of John Thomas and Jane Harrison. His father had passed away in 1900 and his mother lived at Mount Egerton, Victoria. John was educated in Bendigo and after leaving school he did a Farrier apprenticeship for four years. He went on to work as a Farrier and Blacksmith in Victoria. He served in the Boer War with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He served for 15 months and was discharged during 1902, aged 23 years with the Rank of Farrier Sergeant. He was issued with the Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps. After returning from South Africa, John moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Fremantle. During 1911 he married Alice Victoria Payne in Fremantle and a daughter Alice Jean, born a year later. He continued his work as a blacksmith.
John enlisted into the AIF in Perth, during June 1915. John was assigned to the 10th Light Horse Regiment, a unit in which his two brothers also served.
John’s younger brother, 418 Trooper Robert Edward Harrison, an original member of the 10th Australian Light Horse, died of wounds in Egypt on 22 July 1915, aged 31.
John arrived in Egypt during October 1915. On 15 April 1916 he was promoted to Shoeing Smith and held this rank through the next few months.
On 7 August 1916 John was sent sick to hospital at Hod el Fatir. He was soon diagnosed with pneumonia was admitted to the 31st General Hospital at Port Said. Unfortunately, his condition continued to deteriorate and on 15 August 1916 he died from his illness. John was buried in Port Said War Memorial Cemetery.
Nursing Sister, A Davison, of the British Red Cross and Order of St John at 31st General Hospital wrote to his wife, Al, on 14 Aug 1916 to inform her that her husband, Jim, was in hospital and too ill to write himself, and telling her that "he is a little more comfortable this afternoon and I sincerely hope he will progress favourably and will do our best to let him have every attention and all that is necessary.”
An army chaplain, Hugh A. Stevens, wrote a letter of comfort to his family and related that Jim was unconscious all the while that he was in hospital and passed away quietly at about 3.30am on 15 July 1916.
John’s grieving widow, Alice Harrison, for many years, kept every possession and document relating to her late husband’s war service, including the photograph of his grave, his 'dead man's penny' his pipe, watch, compass, diary, badges, and wallet.
Another brother, 2999 Private Alfred Ernest Harrison, also of the 10th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Western Australia during 1919.
(From information from Fremantle History Centre)
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