HARRIS, Bertie John
| Service Number: | 2711 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Richmond, Victoria, Australia , 1892 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Influenza, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England, 22 January 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Section IV, Row K, Grave 15 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bendigo Webster Street Methodist Church Sunday School Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 2711 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 2711, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 2711, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne | |
| 22 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, 2711, Shell shock |
Help us honour Bertie John Harris's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 22nd January…… Bertie John Harris was born at Richmond, Victoria in 1892.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 13th July, 1915 as a 22 year old, single, Miner from Hayes Street, Ironbark, Bendigo, Victoria.
Private Bertie John Harris, Service number 2711, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Anchises (A68) on 26th August, 1915 with the 7th Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements.
[Note: The Embarkation Roll has his name listed as “John Bertis Harris”]
The Statement of Service form has the following entry “Recommended by S.M.O. to be examined by Medical Board on arrival in Egypt.” (S.M.O. = Senior Medical Officer)
He was admitted to Anzac Advance Base at Mudros on 4th December, 1915 from Alexandria. He was discharged to join his Unit on 6th December, 1915 & joined 7th Battalion at Anzac on 7th December, 1915.
On 7th January, 1916 Private Harris disembarked from Empress of Britain at Alexandria (after the evacuation of Gallipoli).
He embarked from Alexandria on 2_ March, 1916 to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 31st March, 1916.
Private Bertie John Harris was wounded in action in France on 19th August, 1916. He was admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance on 20th August, 1916 then transferred the same day to 1st A.R.S. with Shell Shock & was discharged to duty on 23rd August, 1916. Private Harris rejoined 7th Battalion on 24th August, 1916.
On 28th September, 1916 Private Harris was attached for duty to 1st Pioneer Battalion for Mining duties. He rejoined the 7th Battalion on 3rd January, 1917 from detachment.
He was on Leave to UK from 25th January, 1918 & returned from Leave on 10th February, 1918.
Private Bertie John Harris was “With Unit” on 10th August, 1918. (Note: this was usually recorded when there had been no movement, illness etc noted on a soldier’s Casualty Form – Active Service for a period of time).
On 5th January, 1919 Private Harris proceeded on Leave to England from the Field. He was approved Leave from 8th January, 1919 to 22nd January, 1919. Private Harris was admitted to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England on 20th January, 1919 with Bronchitis while on Leave. He was reported to be dangerously ill with Influenza on 21st January, 1919. The Hospital Admissions form recorded: “Severe attack of Influenza 21.1.19. Dyspnoea pains in chest & back. Cough & mucus expectorations. Temp 102 / p. 120. 22.1.19 Temp 102.4 / resp 50 mucus expect. Moist Rales over chest & back. Patient steadily became worse and died at 10.55 pm.”
Private Bertie John Harris died at 10.55 pm on 22nd January, 1919 at 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England from Influenza.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England where around 360 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/h.html
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