HARRIS, Charles Morgan

Charles Harris was the son of Henry Harris of 3 Brook Street, Wordsley. He volunteered for the Worcesters and was sent to the 9th (Service) Battalion. After extensive training during the early part of 1915 they were sent as reinforcements to Gallipoli. Despite their efforts the stalemate on the peninsula continued and in December they were evacuated. They were sent to Mesopotamia to continue the war against Turkey and relieve the siege of Kut where a British force had been surrounded. Their march up the Tigris was difficult and Kut fell to the enemy before they could reach it. In the heat of Summer and in the desert environment many of the troops suffered from illness and Private Charles Harris died on the 25th May. He was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Basra and Wordsley Memorials.