Pte 15114 Sydney Fletcher Harris

• Age: 24
• From: Toxteth Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Sydney Fletcher Harris was born on 20th April 1892 at 32 Dovey Street, Toxteth, Liverpool. Sydney was the second of four sons and a daughter born to Thomas, a Liverpool born railway clerk, and his wife Isabella (nee Fletcher) also born in Liverpool who were married in 1889 at St James, Toxteth Park.

In 1891 Thomas and Isabella lived at 32 Dovey Street, Liverpool, with their baby son, William, and two of Isabella’s sisters.

By 1901 they have five children and are living at 93 Hawkstone Street, Toxteth. Sydney is 8 years of age and lives with both parents and his four siblings. His father, Thomas is 34 years of age and employed as a railway clerk, whilst his mother is 35 years of age. His siblings, all born in Liverpool are listed as; William H. aged 10, Percy F. aged 7, Bertha F. aged 4 and Leonard F. aged 1. Also present is Margaret Fletcher a visitor, most likely Isabella's sister.        

In 1911 the family have moved to 84 Hawkstone Street, Liverpool. Both parents are resident in the property and declare that they have been married for 21 years and all five of their children have survived. Sydney is now 18 years of age and is employed as a general merchant's clerk. His siblings are listed as follows: William, aged 20, is a Barrister’s clerk; Percy, aged 17 years, is a junior clerk, Bertha is 14 and Leonard 12. 

Sydney enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 01st September 1914 joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15114.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915 on board the SS Invicta.

Sydney who served with “A” Company was killed in action and his death was recorded as having occurred on 1^st/2nd July 1916. However, most of the men who died while serving with the 17th Battalion on 01st July are officially listed as having been lost between 01 and 02 July 1916. 

17^th Battalion Diary

3.30 am the Battalion in position in assembly trenches -Battalion frontage from Maricourt – Briqueterie Rd to 100 yards west of Maricourt – Montauban Rd – 1^st wave, 2 platoons of A Company on the right and 2 platoons of B company on the left. 2^nd wave remaining platoons of these companies. 3^rd wave C Company and 4^th wave D Company in parallel trenches at about 100 yards distance. 3^rd Battalion 153^rd French Infantry on our right and 20 KLR on our left. The Battalion’s objective was Dublin Trench from Dublin Redoubt exclusive to a point 400 yards west.

7.30 am – “Zero Hour”. The assault commenced, some shelling but very slight infantry resistance and little machine gun fire encountered, the work of our artillery having been very effective on the German trenches.

8.30 am – the objective was taken at 08.30 am the French on our right gaining their’s at the same hour. Lieutenant-Colonel B C Fairfax and Commandant Le Petit commanding 3^rd Battalion 153^rd Regiment arrived together in Dublin Trench. A and B Companies dug in almost 100 yards south of Dublin Trench which the Germans shelled intermittently all day hardly touching the new trench. Casualties up to 12 noon, Captain E C Torrey commanding C Company, Lt D H Scott commanding A Company and 2^nd Lieutenant P L Wright wounded 100 other ranks. Later in the day the 90^th Brigade took Montauban and the 20^th KLR captured the Briqueterie. Lt Scott died of wounds in a French hospital at Cerisy where Captain Mirascou commanding the left Company of the French also lay wounded. Perfect liaison existed between the French and ourselves the above two officers commanding respectively our right Company and the French left Company being in constant touch. Shortly after the attack commenced the Battalion Headquarters moved to a German dugout in Favieres Support under Briqueterie Road where Commandant Le Petit also established his H.Q. During the remainder of the day there was intermittent bombardment of Dublin and Casement and  Favieres Support trenches. Rations were brought up safely at night. Disposition of the Battalion – 2 Companies in Dublin and 2 in Casement.

Sydney was one of those who was killed in the action described above.

His death was reported among other Pals in the Liverpool Evening Express on 18th July 1916: 

Local Pals Killed.  

The flag of the Liverpool Cotton Association is flying half mast in memory of Corporal A. H. Gastrell and Lance Corporal R. K. Williams of the Pals’ Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, killed in action, who were formerly with Messrs. Milligan and MackIntosh, and of Private A. William Wright, a Liverpool Pal, formally with Messrs. R. and C. Gill. Other Liverpool Pals killed are Private Sydney Harris and Lance Corporal James Wood, both formerly with Messrs. Gruming and Co., Albany. Private Roderic Dexter Sharpe, aged 19, son of Mr A. Sharpe of 30 Great George Street, who had many friends in the South End. 

His parents placed a notice in the Liverpool Daily Post 27th July 1916 

CONDOLENCE 

HARRIS - Mr and Mrs Harris and family, 38 Ampthill Road, Aigburth, sincerely thank all relatives and friends for their letters and kind expressions of sympathy in the loss of their dear son Sydney (“Pals”) 

Sydney's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

The CWGC records show that his parents later lived at 38 Ampthill Road, Aigburth, Liverpool.

Liverpool Daily Post 27th July 1916 

CONDOLENCE 

HARRIS - Mr and Mrs Harris and family, 38 Ampthill Road, Aigburth, sincerely thank all relatives and friends for their letters and kind expressions of sympathy in the loss of their dear son Sydney (“Pals”) 

Liverpool Echo 2nd July 1917 

HARRIS - In ever loving memory of Sydney (Syd), Pals, the dearly loved second son of Mr and Mrs Harris, 38 Ampthill Road, killed in action, July 1, 1916.- Never forgotten by Lulu, Alice and Bob, 31 Hall Lane. 

He is commemorated on the family headstone at Allerton Cemetery in Liverpool:

ALSO SYDNEY SECOND SON OF THE ABOVE 

17TH K.L.R. -  (1st PALS)

KILLED IN ACTION ON THE SOMME

1ST JULY 1916 AGED 24 YEARS

The headstone also records that his father Thomas died on 21st April 1939, aged 72 and his mother Isabella died on 15th March 1953, aged 90. Additionally it records the deaths of Sydney's siblings who rest with their parents as follows: 

Leonard 17th March 1965 aged 65

William 23rd January 1970 aged 79

Bertha Fletcher 18th September 1989 aged 90 

Soldiers Effects to father Thomas, Pension to mother Isabella, 38 Ampthill Road, Aigburth.  

Grateful thanks are extended to Bethany and June McGivern who tirelessly tend to the family grave which records Sydney's sacrifice. Their work is seen in the photograph that accompanies Sydney's entry in these pages. They have now completed their task and the family headstone now looks brand new.  

We currently have no further information on Sydney Fletcher Harris, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.