Jack Leonard Harriss
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
HARRISS also HARRIS Leonard Cooke (known as Jack) was the son of Cook (or Cooke) and Emily Mary Harriss (née Lewis). His father Cooke Harriss was born in Lincolnshire in 1858, the son of Miles Harriss, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Sarah (née Cook). His mother Emily May Lewis was born in Lambeth, London, in 1865, the daughter of John Lewis, a butcher. Cooke (25), occupation butcher, and Emily (22) of no occupation, were married at Bloomsbury St George, Camden, on 24 October 1883. They had five children of whom three survived infancy: Herbert Henry b. Islington 1884 bap. Barnsbury St Andrew November 1884; May Emily b. Marylebone 1891 bap. Paddington Green St Mary 1891 and Leonard Cook b. Marylebone 1893. Cooke and his wife were living on Stanmore Street, Islington, in 1884 but had moved to Princes Street, Marylebone, by 1891 where they were living with their son Herbert (6). Also in the household was a domestic servant. By 1901 Cooke had a butcher's shop on Station Road, Frinton on Sea, Essex, where he was living with his wife and three children, Herbert, May and Leonard. Also in the household was William King, a butcher, and a cousin who was a cattle salesman. However, by 1911 the family was living at 57 Colwick Road, Sneinton, Nottingham, and Cooke was a 'butcher out of employment.' Herbert was an 'educationalist' at a typewriting and shorthand college, May a clerk (cycle manufacturer) and Leonard a lace warehouseman. Also in the household were two male boarders. Cooke and Emily were still living at the same address when Leonard died in 1915. Cooke died in 1925 (reg. Nottingham) and Emily probably died in 1933 (reg. Kensington London).
2nd Bn Grenadier Guards. Probably served as Jack Harriss. He died of wounds at No. 13 Stationary Hospital Boulogne on 20 October 1915 and was buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France (grave ref. I.K.17A). CWGC - History of Wimereux Communal Cemetery (extract): 'Wimereux was the headquarters of the Queen Mary's Army Auxilliary Corps during the First World War and in 1919 it became the General Headquarters of the British Army. From October 1914 onwards, Boulogne and Wimereux formed an important hospital centre and until June 1918, the medical units at Wimereux used the communal cemetery for burials, the south-eastern half having been set aside for Commonwealth graves, although a few burials were also made among the civilian graves.' (www.cwgc.org)
Birth registration: Leonard Cook Harris Census: Leonard Cooke Harriss also Harris CWGC: Jack Leonard Harriss CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’. 22 October 1915: ‘Harriss. Died of wounds received in action, October 20th, 1915, Corpl. Leonard (Jack) Harriss, 2nd Batt. Grenadier Guards, 57 Colwick-road, Sneinton, aged 22 years. He did his duty. With deepest regret, from his sorrowing mother, father, sister and brother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 15 November 1915. Photograph with caption: 'Corpl. L Harriss, 2nd Grenadier Guards, 57, Colwick Road, Nottm., died of wounds Oct 20.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 20 October 1917: ‘Harriss. In loving memory of Corpl. Leonard Harriss, Grenadier Guards, died of wounds October 20th, 1915. Fondly remembered. Mother, father, brother, sister and Sid.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: ‘Sid’ - Sidney TG Garland married May Emily Harriss in 1914. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Jack Harriss - mother Emily Harriss sole legatee. UKSDGW: Jack Harris
