The AIF Project

Roy HARRISON

Place of birthYass, New South Wales
SchoolYass and Goulburn Public Schools, New South Wales
Other trainingAccountancy
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationBank official
AddressV P Harrison, London Bank of Australia, Haymarket, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25
Height5' 8"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinFather, George Harrison, 18 Campbell Street, Milson, Point, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed in the Scottish Rifle Regiment as Private and Corporal (4.5 years); 21st Infantry as Lieutenant (1 year 7 months): still serving at time of AIF enlistment.
Enlistment date3 September 1914
Place of enlistmentSydney, New South Wales
Rank on enlistment2nd Lieutenant
Unit name2nd Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board Transport A23 Suffolk on 18 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollMajor
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles)
Age at death27
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialRue-Petillon Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row D, Grave No. 20), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
159
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: George and Agnes HARRISON
Family/military connectionsBrothers: [951] Lt Cecil Francis HARRISON, 2nd Bn, returned to Australia, 17 March 1917; 1881 Bombardier Vyvyan Paul HARRISON, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column, returned to Australia, 1 April 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Promoted Lieutenant, 1 February 1915.

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 5 April 1915.

Appointed Temporary Adjutant during the absence of Captain Stevens, Gallipoli, 8 May 1915.

Promoted Captain, Gallipoli, 21 June 1915.

Appointed Adjutant after the evacuation of Stevens, Gallipoli, 9 July 1915.

Relinquished the appointment of Adjutant, Gallipoli, 3 December 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 28 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Promoted Major, Tel el Kebir, 1 February 1916.

Transferred to 54th Bn, 14 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19/20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 26 December 1916, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 1280612, 3041 PteJ.G. ELLIS, 54th Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 17 August 1916: 'I saw Major Harrison out in "No Man's Land" right of Fleurbaix and his left side was badly hit almost blown off with shell fire.'

Second statement, 4356 Pte F. COLLS, 54th Bn, 2 September 1916: 'I saw Major Harrison with one wound in the shoulder and another through the stomach which came out just to the right of his spine. This was on the 19.7.16 at Fleurbaix, about 6 p.m. I lay beside him and his equipment off him. We were advancing at the time and I had to leave him. He was lying in a shell hole about 30 yars fromthe German wire which would be about 170 yards from our trenches. We retired the next morning and I never saw him again. but reported to Mr. Harris about the Major. I did not think he would live as there was a big hole in his back and he was bleeding very freely with the blood pumping out of his back.'

Third statement, 4270 Pte A.P. CAMERON, C Company, 54th Bn, 2 February 1917: 'At Fleurbaix, on the evening of the 19th July last, an attack was made on the German trenches; Harrison led the charge, and when just over the top of the Australian trenches, in No Man's Land, he was shot hrough the head. He fell dead and his body was recovered and was buried at Fleurbaix Cemetery, on the main road to Armentieres.' Interviewer note: 'Cameron is a good reliable witness. Evidence excellent.'

Fourth statement, 4229 Pte F. Rounsevell, 54th Bn (patient, 3rd Southern General Hospital, Cowley, Oxford, England), 8 September 1916: 'Informant states that on July 19th on the Right of Flentrbaix (sic) an attack was made on the first and second lines of German trenchs during the night. The two trenches were taken but the following evening had to be evacuated. During the retreat "Major Harrison was picked up dead on the field".'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany. Cert by Capt. Mills. 10.10.1919.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, HARRISON Roy
Red Cross file 1280612

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