Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Albert Edward Harrison
Ancestor's date of birth: 28/08/1879
Ancestor's date of death: Not known - was still alive in 1917
Cause of Death: Not known
Service Number: 968
Colony or State of enlistment: VIC, Place of Enlistment: Melbourne
Unit: 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles
Rank attained in Boer War: CPL, Date Effective: Prior to 15/02/1901
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): CAPT, Date Effective: 09/09/1916
Murray Page: 287
Contingent: Fifth Victorian
Ship: Orient, Date of Sailing: 15/02/1901
Memorial details: VMR Memorial Melbourne.
Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps. Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal (his record indicates that his entitlement to the WW1 medals was withdrawn as he was "Dismissed the Service").
Personal Characteristics: A farmer from Albert Park Victoria.
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not available.
Details of service in war: March 1901 - March 1902 in east Transvaal and Natal frontier, including defeat at Wilmansrust where 18 killed and 42 wounded (12 June 1901), and successful intervention at Onverwacht (4 January 1902); heaviest casualties of any Australian contingent, at Wilmansrust suffered the costliest defeat. Corporal Harrison took part in engagements:Delgoa, BayLine (13/4/1901), Rhenoster Kop (7/5/1901), Klippan, Kornfortein, Dribelfontein,Uryheid, Lucheit Nek, Balmoral, Elandsberg, Standerten.
Service and life after the Boer War: Returned to Australia April 1902. Married to Nora with four children, was living in Coogee NSW in 1915. Accepted a commission in the AIF 24 June 1915, served in the 19 Bn in France, promoted Captain 9 September 1916. Suffered badly from influenza, brochitis, a poisoned knee and shell concussion. Went AWOL in the UK and was court martialled for misappropriation of funds; dismissed from the Army 29 July 1917. Did not return to Australia when scheduled. His service record indicates he may have accepted a commission in the British Regular Army, the trail ends there. His wife wrote many letters to the Department of Defence trying to trace him.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Brian Harrison, Cherrybrook NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson
