John Harris

Pte John Harris Worksop Guardian 11 August 1916 A great bereavement has befallen Mr W.B .Harris, 4 Crown Terrace Worksop. President of the local branch of the Yorkshire Miners Association, by the death of his eldest boy, Pte John Harris, killed in action. Mr Harris, who is a Worksop man born and bred, has like the majority of miners a high idea of patriotism, and he was naturally very proud that his eldest son, who was only 18 last April, should be anxious to do his bit in the fighting line. Young Harris enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters on January 7th last year, and being a fine, tall lad he had no difficulty in joining. Later he was drafted into the 1st Cheshire Regiment, and was lucky enough to find another Worksop lad in the Regiment Pte R Finbow who, however was not in the same company. He had had 13 months service in France, and the end came on July 25th. Finbow, his chum in a letter to Mr and Mrs Harris tells the story, and said that death was instantaneous. Prior to enlisting, young Harris was a driver at Shireoaks Colliery at which his father was also a respected employee. Pte Finbow writes:- “Dear Mr and Mrs Harris, just a line to convey to you the most distressing news, in the death of your son Jack who met his death in the severe fighting on the night of July 25th. He didn’t suffer much pain, as his death was instantaneous, and I can assure you he was buried as comfortably as possible along side a good many more of our boys who have died for the Motherland. He was such a good lad, and we all send our deepest sympathy in the loss of such a noble son. I am one of the few Worksop lads who came out together, and though we were not in the same company we have clung to each other as much as possible. It’s hard to leave such a dear lad behind, but may God comfort you in such a great loss, I shall have to close now, with the deepest sympathy from all officers and men of his Regiment.” What better testimony to the worth of his dead son could a father’s desire than that so unaffectedly given by Pte Finbow ? John Harris was liked by all who knew him. He was a good lad, and his death is a severe blow to his father, who is not in the best of health, and his step mother, Mrs Harris, we are very sure that they have the sympathy of all in their time of trouble. The knowledge of this, and the fact that their boy died doing his duty so bravely, will be some consolation to them.

CWG additional information:- Son of William Benjamin and Annie Elizabeth Harris, of 4, Crown Terrace, Sandy Lane, Worksop, Notts. Formerly 21868, Notts And Derby Regt Buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery Longueval, France. Research by Colin Dannatt