HARRIS, Arthur James
| Service Number: | 2770 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 September 1916, Claremont, Tasmania |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 40th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Redfern, New South Wales, 7 August 1885 |
| Home Town: | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk/Dairy hand/Horse trainer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 9 April 1918, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
Heilly Station Cemetery Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2770, Claremont, Tasmania | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2770, 40th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2770, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne | |
| 9 Dec 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2770, 40th Infantry Battalion | |
| 9 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2770, 40th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918 |
Help us honour Arthur James Harris's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Jim Richards
ART was wounded on December 9th on the front line south of the River Douve but north of Ploegsteert Wood. The initial record notes only that he was “Wounded In Action.” ART was recorded as being “Adm.” (Admitted) to the Australian Field Ambulance (A.F.A.) variously as “S.W.L. Buttock”, “G.S.W.L. Buttock” and “S.W. Buttock”. Officially “G.S.W.L. Buttock”, is short for Gun Shot Wound Left Buttock, however S.W. and S.W.L. may be interpreted as Self-inflicted Wound (Left). He was treated in the field by the Australian Field Ambulance (A.F.A.) at a Divisional Rest Station (D.R.S.) so his injury was not significant. The wound and record entries give rise to the question as to whether it was self-inflicted. Any suspected Self-Inflicted Wound (usual acronym S.I.W.) was treated quite seriously and heavily investigated, sometimes with formal courts-martial. All WW1 Courts Martial records were destroyed by the Australian Government in 1919 – no reason given. The exact nature of the injury (powder burns etc.) would be contained in medical records, however these were held by the British (it was the British Expeditionary Force after all) and were destroyed in London in 1923. Examination of the Australian 40th Battalion, 10th Division and A.F.A. unit diaries and personal records of other troops reveal no details and it appears that it was satisfactorily was resolved at a Battalion level. That he eventually went on to the A.L.T.M. Battery (a dangerous and highly volatile position) and given Paris leave in February suggest that however he came by his injury, he resumed normal duties on 16th December with the 40th Battalion.
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Also enlisted as
Alexander RICHARDS and Alexander McLean.
Birth Name: Alexander Richard THORBURN
a.k.a. Richard MacDuff
Son of Alexander THORBURN and Adelaide May (nee McGuffin).
Born 7 Aug 1885 Redfern, NSW, Australia.
He was 30 but obviously used to vary his age.
He needed to change his name for legal reasons.
The Service Record was later corrected and pension monies sent to his mother, Adelaide May FOSTER (nee McGuffin).
(The Commonwealth required - and still does - significant proof before funds are disbursed).
Information supplied by Jim Richards
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