223429 Pte. Arthur Harris British Army 2nd Btn. D Coy. Royal Scots Fusilliers from:Rotherham, Yorkshire Arthur Harris joined 9th Service Battalion, York and Lancs Regiment in 1914 (a Battalion is a unit made up of between 800 and 1000 men). His Regimental number was 14432.
His medals record card shows he entered the "Flanders theatre of war" on 27th August 1915. This is the date of his arrival in Boulogne as a soldier of the 8th and 9th Service Battalion of the Y&L's to join the 23rd Division, a new army division, the so-called "Kitchener's New Army" or "K3" as it was officially designated.
His unit established itself in the area around Tilques in France and subsequently was engaged in various actions on the Western Front.
On 2nd July 1916 he was wounded in the leg by enemy machine-gun fire during the first or second day of the Battle of Albert, (the opening action in the Battle of the Somme). He was treated in the field at No 3 Casualty Clearing Station in Puchevillers, Pickardie and recuperated at No.9 Base Hospital on the racecourse at Rouen. In consequence of this and of the unit decimation and chaos of the Somme Offensive, he was transferred to D Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. This was his unit until his demobilisation at the end of the war. His Royal Scots Fusiliers service number was 43468.
His rank was Private throughout his service. His discharge documents show both of his regimental service numbers and his military occupation at discharge as “Officer’s Servant†(Batman). His military commendation says “First-class shot", a thought-provoking compliment indeed .
His Lt Col’s recommendation for employment says “Smart and Intelligentâ€.
He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914/15 Star. The 1914/15 Star was awarded to all who served under fire in any theatre of war against Germany between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915, except for those eligible for the 1914 Star (the so-called Mons Star, awarded to those serving under fire during The retreat from Mons - 1914). These three service medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
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