Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Geoffrey Hamlyn Lavicount Harris

Ancestor's date of birth: 28/10/1881

Ancestor's date of death: 24/07/1964

Cause of Death: Age related

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Grew up in the Tumut area of NSW

Service Number: 1012

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: tumut/gundagai

Unit: Australian Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: LT, Date Effective: 1902

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): COL, Date Effective: 1937

Murray Page: 47/168

Contingent: Second New South Wales

Ship: SS Surrey, Date of Sailing: 17/01/1900

Ship: Custodian or Manchester Merchant, Date of Sailing: 16/02/1902

Other Boer War Service: Served as a troop commander 'A' squadron 1^st Australian Commonwealth Horse 1902.

Memorial details: Information not provided.

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps. 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Military Cross, Mentioned in Despatches thrice.

Personal Characteristics: Good leader, confident, natural soldier and good eye for country. Height: 180 cm, weight 85 kg (1914).

Reasons to go and fight: Family Tradition: Lt Col Sir Thomas Noel Harris, Peninsular War, Maj Gen Hamlyn Harris, Indian Mutiny and Burma campaign, Gen Noel Hamlyn Harris, RA, Crimea and Afghan Campaign.

Details of service in war: February 1900 - March 1901 in northern Cape Colony, Free State, and east Transvaal; with French's cavalry division from relief of Kimberley (February 1900) to sweep to Heidelberg (October 1900).

Service and life after the Boer War: Married Myra Beatrice, was living ar 'River View', Tumut NSW. Served as an officer in 11 and 21 Light Horse pre 1914. Enlisted AIF 27 Aug 1914 in 1 LH as a Captain, MID Gallipoli, recommended French Croix de Guerre 1915, MC 1916, promoted Major, MID 1916, Recommended French Croix de Guerre 1916, MID 1919. When he returned to Australia, he lived at Manly Vale NSW. Three times wounded in action in World War 1, Commanded 7 Light Horse 1932-1937.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Dr Kirsty Harris, Richmond VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Niece

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