| Regimental number | 2117 |
| Place of birth | London, England |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Blacksmith's striker |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 18 |
| Height | 5' 4.5" |
| Weight | 124 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Agnes Harriss, 55 Rose Terrace, Mile End, South Australia |
| Previous military service | Served for 1 year in 77th Bn, Senior Cadets; still serving at time of AIF enlistment (previously rejected for Citizen Military Forces enlistment on account of height). |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Keswick, South Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 12th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/29/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 12th Battalion |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Photo: Peter Dennis |
| Discharge date | |
| Family/military connections | Father: 2118 Pte William Henry HARRISS, 4th Pioneer Bn, returned to Australia, 27 July 1917. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Tasken on strength, 12th Bn, Gallipoli, 6 August 1915. Admitted to 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 7 August 1915, and transferred to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and then to Mudros (diarrhoea); to England, 28 September 1915, and admitted to Southern General Hospital, Southmead, Bristol, 11 October 1915. Disembarked Alexandria from England, 5 March 1916 Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 29 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 5 April 1916. Appointed Lance Corporal, 9 September 1916. Wounded in action, 5 August 1917 (bullet wound, left eye); admitted to 5th Field Ambulance, 6 May 1917, and transferred to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station; to 24th General Hospital, Etaples, 7 May 1917; to England, 14 May 1917, and admitted to Kitchener War Hospital, Brighton, 15 May 1917; transferred to Horton War Hospital, Epsom, 25 May 1917; discharged on furlough, 23 July 1917, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 6 August 1917. Commenced return to Australia on board HMNZT 'Pakeha', 27 August 1917; disembarked Adelaide, 20 October 1917; discharged (medically unfit: loss of left eye), Adelaide, 9 November 1917. War service: 2 years 212 days (of which 2 years 130 days were abroad) Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal Death attributed to war service. |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 46 |
| Place of burial | Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, New South Wales |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, HARRISS William |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
