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Private Randal Frederick Ward Harris
Description
TitlePrivate Randal Frederick Ward HarrisAlternative NameRandallSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionRandal was born at Lakeside on 24 June 1892, son of George Alfred Ward and Emily Harris, of Ashley Bank, Lakeside. Before enlisting he was working as a farm hand for his father George at Lakeside. He had previous military experience having served with the Mounted Rifles. He was 5ft 10½in tall with dark complexion, grey eyes and black hair.
He enlisted 4 April 1916 at Trentham and was first posted to the 15th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. In June of 1916 a social and dance was held in the school building to farewell Randal and also L. Palmer. Both men were presented with a fountain pen and balaclava. He embarked from Wellington on 25 July 1916 and disembarked at Devonport on 3 October, marching into camp at Sling the same day after 70 days at sea. He left for France on the 20th and was attached to the strength at Etaples Base Depot on 21st. He was assigned to the 2nd battalion Canterbury Infantry in the field on 8 November. With the 2nd Battalion he trained and prepared for the Messines offense but was wounded in action on the first day suffering a gunshot wound to his thigh. He was treated by the 77th Field Ambulance on the 8th and then transferred to the No.2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station based at Trois Arbres, only 5 miles from Messines, the same day. Sadly he died there four days later of his wounds aged 25, less than a fortnight before his birthday. He was buried in the Baillieu Communal Cemetery Extension, France a safer area just over the border. In New Zealand Randal is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial and the Southbridge School Roll of Honour.
Baillieu was occupied on 14 October 1914 by the 19th Brigade and the 4th Division. It became an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre, with the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations quartered in it for considerable periods. It was a Corps Headquarters until July 1917, when it was severely bombed and shelled, and after the Battle of Baillieu (13-15 April 1918), it fell into German hands and was not retaken until 30 august 1918. The earliest Commonwealth burials at Bailleul were made at the east end of the communal cemetery and in April 1915, when the space available had been filled, the extension was opened on the east side of the cemetery. The extension was used until April 1918, and again in September, and after the Armistice graves were brought in from the neighbouring battlefields. Baillieu Comunal Cemetery Extension contains 4,403 commonwealth burials of the First World War; 11 of the graves made in April 1918 were destroyed by shell fire and are represented by special memorials.First NameRandall Frederick WardLast NameHarrisFamilySingleSon of George Alfred Ward and Emily Harris, of Ashley Bank, LakesideDate of Birth24 June 1892Place of BirthLakesideDate of Death12 June 1917Place of DeathTrois ArbresCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death25
He enlisted 4 April 1916 at Trentham and was first posted to the 15th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. In June of 1916 a social and dance was held in the school building to farewell Randal and also L. Palmer. Both men were presented with a fountain pen and balaclava. He embarked from Wellington on 25 July 1916 and disembarked at Devonport on 3 October, marching into camp at Sling the same day after 70 days at sea. He left for France on the 20th and was attached to the strength at Etaples Base Depot on 21st. He was assigned to the 2nd battalion Canterbury Infantry in the field on 8 November. With the 2nd Battalion he trained and prepared for the Messines offense but was wounded in action on the first day suffering a gunshot wound to his thigh. He was treated by the 77th Field Ambulance on the 8th and then transferred to the No.2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station based at Trois Arbres, only 5 miles from Messines, the same day. Sadly he died there four days later of his wounds aged 25, less than a fortnight before his birthday. He was buried in the Baillieu Communal Cemetery Extension, France a safer area just over the border. In New Zealand Randal is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial and the Southbridge School Roll of Honour.
Baillieu was occupied on 14 October 1914 by the 19th Brigade and the 4th Division. It became an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre, with the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations quartered in it for considerable periods. It was a Corps Headquarters until July 1917, when it was severely bombed and shelled, and after the Battle of Baillieu (13-15 April 1918), it fell into German hands and was not retaken until 30 august 1918. The earliest Commonwealth burials at Bailleul were made at the east end of the communal cemetery and in April 1915, when the space available had been filled, the extension was opened on the east side of the cemetery. The extension was used until April 1918, and again in September, and after the Armistice graves were brought in from the neighbouring battlefields. Baillieu Comunal Cemetery Extension contains 4,403 commonwealth burials of the First World War; 11 of the graves made in April 1918 were destroyed by shell fire and are represented by special memorials.First NameRandall Frederick WardLast NameHarrisFamilySingleSon of George Alfred Ward and Emily Harris, of Ashley Bank, LakesideDate of Birth24 June 1892Place of BirthLakesideDate of Death12 June 1917Place of DeathTrois ArbresCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death25
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryBaillieu Communal Cemetery ExtensionSouthbridge School Roll of HonourEllesmere County War MemorialRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details4th April 1916Service Number15538 Embarkation25th July 1916Place of EmbarkationWellingtonReinforcement15th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private Randal Frederick Ward Harris. Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/02/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/216
