Born 5 February 1893 in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia [16]
Son of William HARRIS and Mary Jane PRESTON [91]
Shifted to Three Springs, Western Australia after his father purchased Brown & Sheridan's General Store in 1911 [9: 21 & 28-Jul-1911]
Shop Assistant in Three Springs in 1914 [6] and a Farmer in Three Springs in 1915 and 1916 [50]
Member of the Three Springs Cricket Club in 1911, 1912 and 1914 [9: 1-Mar-1912, 29-Nov-1912, 26-Jun-1914]
Played for the winning single men in a Married verses Single cricket match in Three Springs on 4 February 1912 [9: 1-Mar-1912]
Attended the Saint Patrick's Day Sports in Three Springs in 1913 and competed in the Sheffield Handicap race [9: 14-Mar-1913]
Master of Ceremonies at the concert held in Three Springs in aid of Red Cross funds on Friday 15 January 1915 [10: 22-Jan-1915]
Attended the annual fete, the "Three Springs Day," held in Three Springs on Monday 16 September 1915 [10]
At the Three Springs Day he won the Tilting at the Ring and his horse Sovereign won the Pony Race [10: 24-Sep-1915]
Master of Ceremonies at the Plain & Fancy Dress Ball in aid of the Red Cross held in Three Springs on 19 July 1916 [10: 28-Jul-1916]
He and Miss Lily BERRIGAN won the Waltzing Competition at the Three Springs Day on 26 September 1917 [10: 5-Oct-1917]
Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Geraldton on 11 December 1917 [30: item 4741466]
Left Three Springs and entered the military camp at Blackboy Hill in early February 1918 [10: 8-Feb-1918]
On enlistment was 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 150 lbs. and had with brown eyes, dark brown hair and a dark complexion [30]
Returned to Three Springs on leave and on Monday 15 April 1918 was tendered a Farewell Social & Dance [10: 26-Apr-1918]
He was presented with a wristlet watch from the people of Three Springs before returning to camp by train on 16 April 1918 [10]
Embarked from Albany, Western Australia for active service abroad on the Port Sydney on 22 August 1918 [30]
Private 57531 in the Australian Imperial Force's 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron in Egypt during the First World War [30]
Embarked from Egypt on the Orari on 15 May 1919 and arrived back in Western Australia on 20 June 1919 [30]
His name appears on the Three Springs Honour Board, which was unveiled on Tuesday 3 June 1919 [9: 6-Jun-1919] [10: 13-Jun-1919]
Discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 11 July 1919; received the British War Medal [30]
Farmer in Three Springs 1922-1932 [6]
He was received into the Roman Catholic faith and baptised at Saint Paul's Church in Three Springs on 23 October 1922 [91]
Married "Lily" Lilian BERRIGAN in 1922 [66]
Attended May BERRIGAN's 21st Birthday held at the Agricultural Hall in Three Springs on Friday 12 September 1919 [9: 19-Sep-1919]
Donated 10/- to the Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee in 1920 [124]
Steward at the Three Springs Race Club's Annual Race Meeting held in Three Springs on Thursday 4 March 1920 [10: 30-Jan-1920]
Member of the Three Springs Cricket Club from 1920-21 to 1930-31 [9: 21-Jan-1921, 12-Jan-1923] [4: 22-Nov-1930]
Clerk of Course at the Three Springs Race Club's Annual Race Meeting in Three Springs on Thursday 3 March 1921 [9: 25-Feb-1921]
Member of the Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee in 1921 and 1922 [124]
Clerk of Course at the Picnic Race Meeting in Three Springs on Saint Patrick's Day Wednesday 17 March 1921 [9: 11-Mar-1921]
Official Measurer at the Picnic Race Meeting held in Three Springs on Saint Patrick's Day Friday 17 March 1922 [124]
Member of the Three Springs Football Club in 1922 [10: 7-Jul-1922]
Master of Ceremonies at the Ball held after the Saint Patrick's Day Celebrations in Three Springs on 15 March 1923 [9: 13-Apr-1923]
Master of Ceremonies at the Hospital Ball at the Agricultural Hall in Three Springs on Thursday 5 April 1923 [9: 27-Apr-1923]
Attended the wedding of Alexander J. F. BROWN and Clara V. BERRIGAN at the Carnamah Hall on 28 August 1928 [4: 8-Sep-1928]
In 1929 he was the local Three Springs agent for H. J. Wigmore & Company, Caterpillar tractors, Shearer farm machinery, [4]
Hannaford wheat grader and pickler, Bridle Draught twin disc ploughs, drills combines and other such and similar items [4]
Advertised his agency business with the line "Buy them and try them, you'll then always buy them" [4: 30-Mar-1929]
He and his wife donated £4 to the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs for Christmas/New Year of 1929 [4: 8-Feb-1930]
Attended the evening dance at the Three Springs Hall after the R.S.L. Sports Day at Arrino on 5 November 1932 [5: 18-Nov-1932]
Member of the Three Springs Golf Club in 1933 [5: 22-Sep-1933]
Attended the Official Opening of the Carnamah Golf Course at Centenary Park in Carnamah on Sunday 23 July 1933 [5: 28-Jul-1933]
Member of the Three Springs Tennis Club in 1933-34 [5: 16-Mar-1934]
Employed the services of Carnamah auctioneer Rupert LAFFAN to sell the entirety of his furniture and effects by auction [5]
The auction was held at his home in Three Springs at 2 p.m. on Saturday 10 March 1933 and among the items sold were: [5]
an oak sideboard, dining table and chairs, settee, sewing machine, oak bedroom suite, kitchen safe and an ice chest [5: 2-Mar-1934]
He and his wife were bid farewell at a function at the Agricultural Hall in Three Springs on Monday 12 March 1934 [5: 16-Mar-1934]
After 25 years in the district he and his wife left Three Springs in March 1934 and shifted to Perth [5: 16-Mar-1934]
Resided in Midland Junction prior to enlisting in the Australian Army on 12 June 1941 [16]
Private W17132 in the Australian Army's Advance Ordnance Depot during the Second World War [16]
Following the end of the war he was discharged from the Australian Army on 14 October 1946 [16]
In 1952 was living at 48 Margaret Street in the Perth suburb of Midland Junction [30]
Later resided in the Perth suburb of Guildford [2]
Died 30 October 1971; buried at the Midland Cemetery in the Perth suburb of Midland (Roman Catholic, I, 2) [2]
Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'William Richard Harris' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 26 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/william-richard-harris [reference list] |
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