Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Private

Army Number : 241749

Unit : 1/5th Bn

Biography :

Home address given as Walton-le-Wolds, Leicestershire. Enlisted at Loughborough, Leics. Served with the 1/5th Bn during World War One. Died of wounds in France and Flanders campaign 21.6.1917, aged 38. He is buried at Loos British Cemetery, France.

Further Info: The Regimental diary for 21st June 1917 reads: "Accidental gassing of C comp by R E, cylinders of gas fell in one line. Causalities: 3 officers, 91 O. R. of whom 22 died." This leads me to believe that William Harris died in a "friendly fire" accident. Captain J D Hills wrote a very graphic account of the incident: at dusk on the 21st we received a message, and at once warned all ranks, that the Special Brigade Royal Engineers were going to carry out a gas bombardment of the mine buildings of Fosse 3. Projectors would be fired by a Company operating with the Canadian Corps, from whose front the buildings could be best attacked. The wind was satisfactory, and the buildings were at least 150 yards away from our nearest trenches, so there seemed no need of any special precautions. "C" Company occupying Boot and Brick trenches, heard the familiar explosion as the projectors went off, and waited to hear them fall in the buildings. Instead they fell in our trenches, several hundred of them; in a few seconds, and before any warning could be shouted the trenches were full of phosgene, the deadliest of all gasses. Officers and men worked hard to rouse those resting, and in particular, 2nd Lieutenant Banwell taking no heed for his own safety, went everywhere, rousing, rescuing and helping the badly gassed. But it was too late, and all through the night and next morning casualties were being carried out to Lievin and down the line - "C" Company was wiped out and temporarily ceased to exist. Twenty four died from the poison, and in all sixty-two others of the Company went to Hospital."

CWGC:

HARRIS, W
Rank: Private
Service No: 241749
Date of Death: 21/06/1917
Age: 38
Regiment/Service: Leicestershire Regiment 1st/5th Bn.
Grave Reference XIX. A. 20.
Cemetery: LOOS BRITISH CEMETERY
Additional Information:

Son of William and Eliza Harris, of The Elms Cottages, Hoby, Leicestershire.

Names of those who died in the Regiment on the day:

BAUM, WILFORD
Corporal
240497
21/06/1917
26
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 24.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

BENTON, JOHN
Private
240760
21/06/1917
20
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 20.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

BROOKS, ARTHUR
Lance Corporal
241397
21/06/1917
20
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 19.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

CARTER, A C
Private
240374
21/06/1917
33
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 25.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

FOULDS, E
Serjeant
240447
21/06/1917
25
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 26.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

GILBERT, W E
Private
200737
21/06/1917
23
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 27.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

GREWCOCK, H W
Private
241655
21/06/1917
22
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 28.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

MASON, A J
Private
240689
21/06/1917
20
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 29.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

POLLARD, GEORGE
Private
240977
21/06/1917
23
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 22.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

ROURKE, A W
Private
202277
21/06/1917
30
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 23.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

STANYON, ARTHUR
Private
242590
21/06/1917
20
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 21.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

WALKER, GEORGE
Private
241174
21/06/1917
24
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
II. B. 18.
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

MILLER, G
Private
202322
21/06/1917
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
XXVIII. A. 18.
CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ

WARRINGTON, JOHN ROBERT
Lance Corporal
240954
21/06/1917
19
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
I. L. 11.
CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY

BRADLEY, C
Private
242640
21/06/1917
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
VIII. D. 11.
VILLERS STATION CEMETERY, VILLERS-AU-BOIS

JOHN
Corporal
36384
21/06/1917
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
VI. A. 20.
GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY

DAKIN, GEORGE
Private
242613
21/06/1917
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
XIX. A. 19.
LOOS BRITISH CEMETERY

HARRIS, W
Private
241749
21/06/1917
38
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
XIX. A. 20.
LOOS BRITISH CEMETERY

NORTH, R S
Private
241486
21/06/1917
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
XIX. A. 18.
LOOS BRITISH CEMETERY

HURST, JOSEPH CHARLES
Private
200785
21/06/1917
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
Bay 5.
ARRAS MEMORIAL

WAIN, A
Private
202529
21/06/1917
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
I. D. 25.
FOSSE NO.10 COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SAINS-EN-GOHELLE

HAWKINS, A
Private
241470
21/06/1917
Leicestershire Regiment
United Kingdom
I. D. 26.
FOSSE NO.10 COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SAINS-EN-GOHELLE

Place of Birth : Hoby & & Leicestershire

Date of Death : 21.6.1917

Place of Death : & & France

Period of Service : 1910s

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : & & France