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Cenotaph record

Colin Randolph Harrison

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Portrait, Auckland Weekly News 1916 - No known copyright restrictions

Portrait, Auckland Weekly News 1916 - No known copyright restrictions

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Colin Randolph AWMM
  • Surname
    Harrison AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWI 12/2319 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM Wapiti Avenue, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs I. Harrison (mother), Wapiti Avenue, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 13 June 1915 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 12/2319 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW1 Unknown AWMM AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Son of Wright and Isabella Harrison. of Marton, Wanganui AWMM
    • My Grandfather, George McLaren mentions Colin Harrison several times in his WW1 war diary. Firstly in a list of friends addresses met during the voyage of the 5th reinforcements to Gallipoli.

      Colin's death is then mentioned during the battle of the Somme.

      "Monday the 18th of September 1916. Had a terrible night, wet and both sides bombardment. 5 XXXX took the two trenches on our left and us bombers had to run across a 30 yds open stretch swept with machine guns. Colin got killed & Ted & Bill got wounded, at present sitting in Huns dugout trying to sleep, wet & mud up to neck. 7pm Frank and I buried poor old Colin, we put a cross over the spot as best we could & took his pay book & etc, will send it to his people first chance".

      Rest in peace, Pte Colin Harrison. Public - Steven - Researcher - 17 June 2018 - McLaren Family WW1 War Diary
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    17 September 1916 AWMM
    Age 31 AWMM
    Somme, Northern France AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France AWMM
    • Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 1 Hall of Memories AWMM

Roll of Honour

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  • My grandfather (George McLaren - 12/2419) was a good mate of Colin Harrison. George was his corporal in the bombing section of the 3rd Auckland Company, 1st Auckland Battalion. Both men had served in Gallipoli together.

    George along with his best mate Corporal Frank Coulam buried Colin on the battle field during the Battle of the Somme, on the 18th of September 1916. Colin was killed by machine gun fire whilst the Battalion Bombers were working their way along the Flers Trench to remove the Germans that were still in the trench.

    From Georges diary ... " Monday 18th of September - Tommies took th two trenches on our left and us bombers has to run across a 30yards open stretch swept with machine guns. Colin got killed & Tod & Bill wounded. 7pm, Frank & I buried poor old Colin. We put a cross over the spot as best we could."

    Colin Harrison has no known grave. May he rest in peace.
    Public - Steven - Researcher - 1 September 2019
    Report 

Related Serviceperson

Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
10 June 2023Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
01 September 2019StevenBrisbaneResearcher

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