John William Harrison (1893-1917)
Darlington man served with DLI commemorated on Arras Memorial
John William Harrison was killed in action on April 23rd 1917, during the Battle of Arras. He is commemorated at the Arras Memorial.
John was born on 3 May 1893 in Darlington, and baptised at St Hilda’s Church on 14 May. He was the eldest child and son of the four children of John Grey and Emily Annie Harrison (nee Innies). The family lived in Darlington at 27 George Street. His father had been born in Lincolnshire but he and his mother moved to Darlington soon after his birth in 1869. In 1911 John William was a blacksmith’s apprentice and his father worked as a linotype engineer.
John volunteered in Darlington for the Durham Light Infantry and disembarked in France on 17 April 1915. Unfortunately, his Attestation Papers are amongst the “Burned” Collection, so very little is known of his personal life. He was a private and his Service Number was 1611. Later he was made up to lance corporal (signaller) and his number became 200061.
John died of his wounds on 23 April 1917 aged 23. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, and on Panel 4 of the tablets in the Entrance Hall of the Administrative Building of the War Memorial Hospital now Darlington Memorial Hospital. John’s name is on the Memorial at Hilda’s Church. He was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal and the 1915 Star – known as “Pip Squeak and Wilfred” after a popular newspaper cartoon.
Civil Parish: Darlington
Birth date: 03-May-1893
Death date: 23-Apr-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 27 George Street, Darlington (1901 census)
63 Leafield Road, Darlington (1911 census, CWCG)
Family: Father: John Grey Harrison b.1869
Mother: Emily Annie Harrison b. 1871
Brother: Edward Harrison b. 1896
Sister: Winifred Harrison b. 1901
Sister: Doris Lillian b. 1904
Military service:
Joined 1st/5th Durham Light Infantry
Service numbers: 1611, 200061
1916 made up to Lance Corporal
Medal(s): 1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial
Town War Memorial at the War Memorial Hospital (now Darlington Memorial Hospital)
Triptych at St Hilda’s
Gender: Male
Contributed by MARGARETW, DARLINGTON
