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William HARRIS #2838

By JOL Admin | 3 November 2017

William HARRIS, 15th Infantry Battalion

William Harris enlisted at Toowoomba, in August 1915 and after training at Enoggera military camp embarked for overseas with the 9th Reinforcements for the 15th Infantry Battalion just a few weeks later. By early November Harris had joined his unit at Gallipoli, where the 15th were occupying positions at Hay Valley, just as the winter weather returned.

The 15th Battalion was withdrawn from the Peninsula in mid December, first to the island of Lemnos, and then to Alexandria in Egypt. Following the withdrawal the AIF was reorganised and men from the 15th Battalion including William Harris, considered veterans, were transferred to the newly formed 47th Battalion that would soon after sail for service in Northern France and the Western Front.

Harris though was found to be absent without leave from his unit for almost 3 months after arriving in Egypt, and was struck off the Battalion as a deserter, and they left without him. Harris then spent some time in hospital being treated for a 'common complaint' amongst soldiers before being shipped to England, in preparation for service in Europe.

Once in England, Private Harris spent the majority of his time evading the military authorities or being treated in hospital for VD. Eventually in April 1918 Harris was returned to Australia for medical discharge.

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Marg Powell & Des Crump

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