Military Personnel file states his date of birth as 28 April 1979.

Following the South African War 1899-1902, William remained in South Africa where he joined the Transvaal Town Police based in Johannesburgh for a period of 6 years. Police records unfortunately for the early years of this post-war force are sketchy to nonexistent. It is interesting however to follow the correspondence in his war service file relating to his medals (“Cape Colony”, “Transvaal”, and “Rhodesia”) which includes a handwritten note from his father Samuel indicating that he was presently in the police force, Doomfontein, Johannesburgh. His police badge at the time of compiling this history is in the possession of the family.

August 13 1914 within a few days of the outbreak of World War One William enlisted at Timaru with the 7th Canterbury Mounted Rifles, NZ Expeditionary Force. Trooper William, regimental number 7/59 stated his age as 34 years 3 months obviously to meet the then age requirement. Actual age was 37 years 3 months. It is noted that the enlistment medical document asks the question “does he look older or younger than stated age?” - to which the answer was “looks about stated age”. His employer before enlistment was James Davidson of Hinds and his last address was Coffee Palace, Ashburton.

On 9 May 1915 he embarked for the Dardenelles, entrance to the Gallipoli battlefields where he served more than three months until he sustained a gunshot wound which resulted in a compound fracture of his lower forearm and left shoulder. Although his service file simply refers to Anzac Cove it is clear from the date 21 August 1915 and the history of Gallipoli that he received his wound in the bloody battle for Hill 60. He was moved to base at Anzac Cove next day, then to Mudros (Greek Islands) and from there on 26 August 1915 to England on board the hospital ship “Franconia”. History of the campaign indicates that the diversion of hospital ships to England was due to the Egyptian facilities being full to overflowing with Gallipoli casualties.

On 9 September 1915 Trooper William was admitted to the military hospital at Hampstead, England and after a furlough (leave) was re-admitted 16 March 1916. Soon after on 8 April he was transferred on the HS (Hospital Ship) Dover Castle to the NZ General Hospital in Cairo, Egypt where he arrived 18 April.

“No longer fit for war service on account of wounds received in action”, he embarked for New Zealand on the HS Tahiti 5 May 1916 arriving in NZ 6 June 1916. William was discharged from the army 10 October 1916 after service with the NZEF totalling 2 years 60 days and including 1 year 235 days overseas.

From July 1917 to 15 September 1918 he served with the rank of lance corporal in the NZ Military Police - total service 1 year 56 days.

William died 29 August 1955. He is buried in the Servicemens’ Cemetery at Andersons Bay, Dunedin.

Record compiled from information provided by Harris family (April 2015).

Present address (as listed in New Zealand. Army (1920). List of the names of all ex-members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, suffering permanent disability from 20% to 100%): Gladbrook Estate, Middlemarch

His father was named Samuel Harris. AWMM