Name
Arthur Ernest Harris
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/09/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
204016
Wiltshire Regiment
1st/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY
U.27
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Rickmansworth memorials, Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Arthur’s birth in 1896 was registered in High Wycome and in 1901 he was living with parents Thomas and Annie (nee Rockwell) Harris and his seven siblings at Hambledon Village, Buckinghamshire.
Thomas was an Engine Driver on Farm, but died in 1902. In 1906 Annie married Frederick Richard Beesley and in 1911 they were living at Branksome, Station Road. Marlow. With them was their daughter Violet Mary and seven children from Annie’s marriage to Thomas. Arthur age 15, was a Shop Boy in a Grocer’s.
On his death monies due to Arthur were paid to Mrs Annie Beesley when she was living Tolpits Cottages, Rickmansworth. In 1939 Annie and Frederick were at 1 Lakes Lane, Beaconsfield, Watford 06/01/1906 age 17 years 10 months.
Recorded as enlisting in Newport, Isle of Wight while living in Watford.
Wartime Service
Formerly 2341, Hampshire Regiment before joining the 1st/4th Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment).
The 1st/4th Battalion was raised at Trowbridge in August 1914, and on the 9th of October sailed from Southampton to India, arriving Bombay on the 9th of November 1914.
After almost three years in India the Battalion moved to Egypt in September 1917 joining 233rd Brigade 75th Division, transferring to 232nd Brigade in May 1918. The Battalion participated in many of the actions of the Palestine campaign. The Battle of Megiddo, sub divided into the Battle of Sharon on the coast, and the Battle of Nablus in the Judean Hills, was the start of General Allenby’s successful campaign to defeat the Turkish armies.
Arthur probably died at Sharon, where on the first day the 19th of September 1918, 75th Division was given the task of taking Miske and the trench system around the village of Et Tire. 232nd Brigade swept through the enemy’s frontline meeting very little opposition. Miske was captured but Et Tire proved more formidable although captured when reinforcements were brought up.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Mike Collins, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
