HARRISON, Vivian
| Service Number: | 3600 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Light Trench Mortar Battery |
| Born: | Mole Creek, Tasmania, 1 October 1897 |
| Home Town: | Mole Creek, Meander Valley, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds - Shrapnel, France, 11 April 1917, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Vraucourt Copse Cemetery, Vaulx-Vraucourt Plot 3, Row B, Grave 1, Vraucourt Copse Cemetery, Vaulx-Vraucourt, Bullecourt, Picardie, France, Queant Road Cemetery, Buissy, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Deloraine War Memorial, Mole Creek War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3600, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3600, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Involvement Private, 3600, 4th Light Trench Mortar Battery, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3600 awm_unit: 4th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-04-11 |
Help us honour Vivian Harrison's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography
Enlisted 13th August 1915 11th Reinforcements, 15th Batallion. Embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ulysses 27th October 1915.
Joined Battalion Tel el Kebir 9th March 1916.
Proceeded to join B.E.F Alexandria 1st June 1916.
Disembarked at Marseilles 8th June 1916.
Transferred to 4th Light Trench Mortar Battery.
1916
- The Battles of the Somme 1916
- The Battle of Pozieres including the fighting for Mouquet Farm
1917
- Operations on the Ancre
- Germans retreat to the Hindenburg Line
- The Arras offensive
- The first attack on Bullecourt
The first attack on Bullecourt on the 10th April 1917 was delayed due to tanks not ariving on time. Pte. Harrison was struck in the groin by shrapnel from enemy bombardment on their return at Noreuil. He was trken by stretcher bearers to the Dressing Station but died from his wounds on the 11th April 1917. He was 19 years old.
In 1930 the Imperial War Graves Comission contacted Pte Harrisons father. During re-interment from Vaulx A.D.S. Cemetery into Vraucourt Copse British Cemetery a spoon handle marked "V.H." was recovered from the remains removed from Plot 1, Row A, Grave 4 and previously recorded as an "Unknown Australian Soldier"
The following is an extract from the letter.
"It was ascertained that the only casualty bearing the initials "V.H." which occured in the area was the above-mentioned and there would appear very little doubt that the body recovered is his."
The following is Pte. Harrison father, Charles, reply.
"Dear Sir.
I recieved your letter on Wednesday night and my son no is 3600 Private Vivian Harrison, 4th Light Trench Mortat Battery, and you state that there was a spoon found on the body with a VH on it. I feel sure that it is my son and I wish for the 'believed to be' taken away and his name put on the stone. We know he died a noble death for king and his country. His mother would very much like the spoon that was found on the body with the VH on it. Could he get and send to me.
Yours Faithfully
Charles Harrison"
The spoon handle along with all his medals and other items are now in a frame to keep everything together and preserved. The spoon handle can be seen in the bottom right hand frame.
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