John Henry Harris was born at the turn of 1879, the oldest of eight children to John and Florence Harris. John Sr was a mason’s labourer from Somerset, and his and Florence’s three oldest children were born in Bishop’s Hull, near Taunton. By 1890, however, the family had moved to Monkton Combe, on the outskirts of Bath, presumably to follow John Sr’s work, and this is where they settled.
When John Jr completed his schooling, he followed in his father’s trade and when the 1901 census return was completed, he was employed as a mason’s labourer, while his father had moved into carpentry.
Florence died in April 1901, and six years later, John Sr remarried. His new wife was Ann Gibbs, and the couple went on to have three children, new half-siblings to John Jr.
In the autumn of 1905, John Jr married in Eliza Mundy, a cowman’s daughter from Monkton Combe. The couple settled in a small cottage on Mill Lane, and had a son, Frank, who was born in 1907. By this point, John had found new employment as a gardener to the local vicar, Reverend Pitcairn.
When war came to European shores, John quickly stepped up to enlist. He joined the 7th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry and arrived in France in July 1915 after his training.
Private Harris was wounded during the opening weeks of the Battle of the Somme, but recovered and returned to the Front Line. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, but in March 1917 he was wounded again. “A piece of his steel helmet was driven into his head at the temple, and little hope of his recovery was entertained from the first.” [Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 24th March 1917]
Medically evacuated to Britain, Private Harris was admitted to a hospital in Stockport, Cheshire. His “wife (who has been dangerously ill in hospital), Mr John Harris (his father) and a sister proceeded to Stockport, but, unfortunately, did not arrive until shortly after death had occurred.” [Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 24th March 1917]
Private Harris passed away on 13th March 1917, at the age of 38 years of age.
John Henry Harris’ body was brought back to Monkton Combe for burial and he was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Michael’s Church, his funeral being officiated over by his former employer, Reverend Pitcairn.
Eliza went on to marry again, wedding Walter Giggs in 1921. The couple went on to have a daughter, Margery, who was born two years later. Eliza lived on until 1949, when she died at the age of 69 years old. She was also laid to rest in St Michael’s Churchyard.
Death and Service 