John Allan HARRIS

HARRIS, John Allan

Service Number: 24987
Enlisted: 19 July 1940
Last Rank: Aircraftman
Last Unit: RAAF Station Darwin
Born: Kilcoy, Queensland, Australia, 10 February 1919
Home Town: Chermside, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Clerk, Queensland Railways
Died: Prisoner of War , Netherlands, East Indies, 20 February 1942, aged 23 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Ambon Memorial, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia Col 10
Memorials: Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement 24987
19 Jul 1940: Enlisted
28 Feb 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 24987, RAAF Station Darwin
28 Feb 1941: Enlisted 24987

Help us honour John Allan Harris's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Following the Japanese invasion of Ambon Island a group of RAAF personnel working in support of Gull Force were captured trying to escape to Ceram. They were executed by the Japanese at Laha between the 6th and 20th of February 1942

Post-war their bodies were located in a mass grave; four individuals were positively identified and are buried in Ambon War Cemetery with the remaining seven commemorated on the Ambon Memorial to the missing

Positively identified; buried in Ambon War Cemetery with official date of death 6 of February 1942

Wing Commander Scott 250101

Flying Officer Verey 261029

Corporal Gaskin 16645

Aircraftman Evans 37304

Group burial; commemorated on the Ambon Memorial with official date of death 20 February 1942

Squadron Leader Anderson 253

Flight Lieutenant White 260624

Leading Aircraftman Walker 27521

Sergeant Read 406222

Aircraftman Harris 24987

Flight Sergeant Baker 402700

Flying Officer Meyer 290745

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