HARRIS, John Osborne
| Service Number: | 434251 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 November 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 101 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 10 September 1924 |
| Home Town: | Clayfield, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Eagle Junction State School & Brisbane State High School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Salesman, Australian General Electrical Pty Ltd |
| Died: | Flying Battle, North West Europe, 28 May 1944, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Sommelsdijk General Cemetery, Holland Collective grave 29-32 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane State High School Honour Board, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flight Sergeant, 434251 | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Nov 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 434251, No. 101 Squadron (RAF) |
Connection to John Harris
I come from an airforce family and always knew about John growing up.
My great aunt Hilda Layton married John's father Edwin Frank Harris in 1914. However Hilda died in 1917 aged 25 and Frank eventually married Gwendolyn Osborne in 1921. He stayed in close contact to the Layton family however.
Hilda's older brother Harold was my grandfather and he had two chidren - my Uncle Don (RAAF in WW2) and Judith my mother.
Frank and Gwendolyn had John in 1925 about the time my Uncle Don was born. My mother was born in 1931. John was in close contact to Don and Judith. I've always had a photo of John in uniform.
In 2014 I was contacted by a Kees Stoutjesdijk through Ancestry.com. He lives in the village in Holland where John's Lancaster went down. We shared some information.
I'd love to post John's pic if there was a place for it.
Paul Holland
Submitted 27 December 2023 by Paul Holland
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