HARRIS Tom

STONEBROOM SOLDIER DROWNED WHILST BATHING

A Stonebroom private, Tom Harris, of the Sherwood Foresters , was drowned whilst bathing at Etaples, France , on August 9th. Deceased was aged 25 years and a son of the late Mr & Mrs Harris of The Blocks, Stonebroom, a brother to Pte Eli Harris of 575 Station Road, Morton, with whom he resided after the death of his parents. He enlisted in 1907 and being on the Reserve when War was declared, was immediately recalled to the Colours and sent to France with the first draft of troops. He was wounded on August 9th 1915 and again on July 21st, 1916.While out of the service deceased worked as a miner and was well known both at Stonebroom and Morton. From the War Office, Mrs Eli Harris, sister in law to Pte Tom Harris received an official intimation to him being wounded on the 21st and later from the Records Office got a communication notifying her of his death by drowning on August 9th, at Etaples.

Pte Eli Poole, another Stonebroom soldier, has written to the effect that Tom was drowned while bathing, and his body was subsequently recovered by a Belgian soldier. He suggested that deceased accidentally got beyond his depth and was unable to get back when he wished to do so. There were no bruises or marks on the body.

Derbyshire Times: 1916?
Provided by Mr Farley