Thomas James Harris
Sergeant, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
- Register No.
- 534 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (register: Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)) all Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 August 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 22nd October, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 30th January 1892 at Halling, Kent
- Died
- 9th August, 1918 at Morlancourt, France. (killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, France
Digest of citation
On 9th August, 1918 at Morlancourt, France, when the advance was much impeded by a hostile machine guns concealed in crops and shell holes, Sergeant Harris led his section against one of these, capturing it and killing seven of the enemy. Later, on two successive occasions he attacked two enemy machine-guns which were causing heavy casualties. He captured the first gun and killed the crew, then was himself killed when attacking the second. It was largely due to the great courage and initiative of this NCO that the advance of the Battalion continued without delay and undue casualties
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HARRIS, Thomas James. (reg No. 534).
Sergeant. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.
London Gazetted on 22nd October, 1918.
Born on 30th January 1892 at Halling, Kent.
Died on 9th August, 1918 at Morlancourt, France. (killed in action).
Memorial on grave at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9th August, 1918 at Morlancourt, France, when the advance was much impeded by a hostile machine guns concealed in crops and shell holes, Sergeant Harris led his section against one of these, capturing it and killing seven of the enemy. Later, on two successive occasions he attacked two enemy machine-guns which were causing heavy casualties. He captured the first gun and killed the crew, then was himself killed when attacking the second. It was largely due to the great courage and initiative of this NCO that the advance of the Battalion continued without delay and undue casualties.
Additional information:. Sergeant Harris had also been awarded the Military Medal (MM).
Additional information
Sergeant Harris had also been awarded the Military Medal (MM).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, France
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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