HARRIS, James Colman
| Service Number: | 2681 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hindmarsh, South Australia , April 1873 |
| Home Town: | Brompton, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Hindmarsh School, Hindmarsh, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium , 26 September 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 27 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2681, 50th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Melbourne embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2681, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Melbourne, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
James Colman Harris was the son of Mrs. Harriet Harris and Mr. James Harris. He was born in Brompton, South Australia, in early 1873. Harris was a single 44-year-old labourer when he decided to enlist in Adelaide on the 27th of May 1916. He was a 5-foot 9 male with a medium skin tone, blue eyes and brown hair that was turning grey.
He embarked on 23rd October 1916, as a Private, with the service number 2681, as part of the 50th Infantry Battalion, leaving from HMAT Port Melbourne, Adelaide.
A few months into the war Harris got sick on April 14th, 1917 and was sent to Salisbury Hospital in England. He was there for two months, being discharged to duty on June 29th, 1917.
His final battle he fought in was the Third battle of Ypres which took place in over 9 places, but Harris fought in Ypres, Belgium. The Third Battle of Ypres started on 31st of July 1917 and ended in 10th of November 1917
On the 26th of September 1917, he was reported wounded in action but sadly it was turned to killed in action later in the day, thanks to shellfire, in Zonnebeke Belgium. Harris was buried by his fellow soldiers 300 yards north of Westhoek, Belgium with the "usual" wooded cross placed erect at his grave.
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