Private Albert Harris, Australian Army Ordnance Corps

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for permission to share this post on our blog.

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27 October 2021

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery, will my Honour and Dignity be restored?

80 years ago today, on the Monday afternoon of the 27th October 1941, Private Albert Harris,
Australian Army Ordnance Corps, 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion (Reg No’s - 428 & 4312A), apprentice fitter (engineer) and Warrant Officer, from 15 Northumberland Street, Mayville, New South Wales and "Birkenhead", Coal Point, N.S.W., father of two (Joan and Rosalind), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 45. ANGLICAN 2-115. 9.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134073343 - funeral notice states service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134071465 - obituary.

Born at Islington, New South Wales on the 26th June 1896 to Albert Edward and Annie Elizabeth Harris nee Matters; husband of Dorothy H L Harris nee Chettoe (married 1929, Carey Bay, N.S.W. or Waverley, N.S.W., died 1984, unmarked grave, sleeping side by side, ANGLICAN 2-115. 11., 43 years a widow), Albert enlisted July 1915 with the 30th Battalion at Liverpool, N.S.W.

Recalled by the Railway Commissioners.

Reenlisted April 1917 at Newcastle, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133750230 - send-off from the Smedmore Mechanics' Institute.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138747281 - report that Albert has arrived safely in England.

Admitted to hospital 16.3.1918 (trench nephritis and bronchitis).

Albert returned home October 1919, being discharged on the 13th December 1919.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140068911 - report that Albert is returning home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140068478 - report that Albert due to arrive home soon.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140074574 - welcome home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162596390 - welcomed home at the Smedmore Literary Institute.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162595160 - report that Albert had returned home (with photo).

Mr. Harris’s name has been inscribed on the Cooks Hill Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Islington St. Mark's Anglican Church Roll of Honour, Wickham Municipal District Roll of Honour Board (1), Honeysuckle Point Railway Workshops Roll of Honour (photo, unveiled on the 25th May 1915, 10 names originally inscribed, 44 names now inscribed, 5 Fallen), Newcastle Amalgamated Society of Engineers Roll of Honour, Newcastle Loyal Union Lodge Manchester Unity I.O.O.F. Roll of Honour and the Newcastle 39th Fortress Company, Australian Engineers' Roll of Honour. Name probably inscribed on the Smedmore Mechanics' Institute Roll of Honour. Name not listed on the NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919.

I located Albert resting in an unmarked grave, now long forgotten, so December 2018 I placed a cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service.

http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/.../index.php...

I submitted an application to DVA October 2020 asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip, but unfortunately STILL waiting for a decision.

Lest We Forget.