'Pal' Harris Awarded M.M., 5th July 1916

L/Cpl. Alfred Alma Harris, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, won the Military Medal for his bravery at La Boisselle on 5th July 1916. His former ‘C’ Company commander, Captain Kenneth Norman Bion [1], who had been wounded in the same action (three out of four company commanders were wounded that day), wrote to congratulate him on the award.

“Dear Harris, - Just a line to congratulate you most sincerely on getting the military medal. You deserved it thoroughly, not only for this last show, but also for the many good things you have done previously. I heard from Mr. Moore the other day that you were now Post Corporal and Orderly. If you took the trouble you would get very rapid promotion. Remember me to those who are left.” [2]

[1] Australian-born Captain Kenneth Norman Bion was commissioned into the Notts. & Derby., on 1st March 1915, joining the 1st Battalion in France on 21st April 1915. Hospitalised on 6th June 1915, he returned to duty on 25th June 1915. Appointed T/Captain 23rd November 1915. Awarded the Military Cross in the New Year’s Honours 1st January 1916.

Wounded 5th July 1916 during the attack on the Tara Line at La Boisselle, evacuated back to the U.K. on 8th July 1916. He returned to France to join the 2nd Battalion on 9th December 1916 and Mentioned in Despatches on 21st December 1917.

He was killed whilst the acting commanding officer of 2nd Battalion when he was shot in the head by a strafing German aircraft on 22nd March 1918. His death was recorded in the regimental history:

“The enemy renewed his attacks on the morning of the 22nd, and these continued for some hours, principally about Vaulx and Mericourt Woods, but the Foresters were not called upon until midday, when they moved up to within 1,500 yards of Vaulx with the view of making a counter-attack against the Vaulx-Morchies line in conjunction with the 9th Norfolks; but their numbers were considered too weak for this and the proposed attack was abandoned. Later, at 2.30 p.m., the enemy was reported as attacking in force from the direction of Vaulx, and the Battalion was moved up and occupied a line 200 yards in rear of the Vaulx-Morchies road to try and hold up the attack. An hour later, the Germans being found advancing in overwhelming numbers and our troops on the right having withdrawn, it was considered advisable to retire to the position north of Beugny which had been held in the morning. The withdrawal was effected in good order, but in the course of it the Battalion suffered a great loss in the death of Captain Bion, a most able and gallant officer, who was shot through the head by a bullet fired from a German aeroplane. The command of the Battalion was now assumed by Captain A.H.A. Giles.”

Wylly, H.C. Colonel, “The 1st and 2nd Battalion The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) in the Great War, p.164, Gale & Polden, (London) 1925.

[2] ‘Hucknall Dispatch’, 12th October 1916.