The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Harris
- First Name:
- Charles Henry
- Nick Name:
- Chas/Charlie
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7851
- Company:
- 'A' Company, No. 4 Platoon.
- Enlisted:
- 13.08.1940
- DOB:
- 20.05.1914
- Place of Birth:
- Picton Junction, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Edward Charles Harris
- Mothers's Name:
- Ellen Curley Harris (nee Winwood)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farrnhand
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Labuan Memorial, Panel 18, Age 31.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi
- Force:
- 'B' Force Borneo
- POW#:
- 797
- Cause of Death:
- Malaria
- Place of Death:
- Sandakan No. 1 Camp.
- Date of Death:
- 27.05.1945
- Buried:
- No. 2 Cemetery, No. 1 Camp Sandakan.
General Description
The Harris family was living at Boyanup when son Charles enlisted in 1940. He was unmarried then aged 25. It was two years before his sister learned he had been captured and was a POW.
Harris was with A Coy No. 4 Platoon
His parents Edward Harris and Ellen Curley Winwood married 1909. Charlie was one of at least 6 children.
Below: death of father to Ellen Harris at Capel.
Below: Grandfather to Charlie Harris
Below: death 1936 of Charlie’s grandmother
Two sisters of Charlie Harris married 2/4th mates.
Myrtle May Harris married Harry Delaporte WX8011
and sister Ellen Bertha Harris married Claude Knott WX7616 (Fairbridge Farm School Boy)
Delaporte, Knott and Harris were all in ‘A’ Company.
The Harris and Delaporte families were early pioneers of the district.
HARRIS, Private, CHARLES, WX7851. A.I.F. 2/4 M.G. Bn. Australian Infantry. 27th May 1945. Age 31. Son of Edward and Ellen Curley Harris, of Boyanup, Western Australia. Panel 18, Labuan Memorial Malaysia’
As a POW in Singapore Charles Harris was selected to work in Borneo with ‘B’ Force which departed for Sandakan in July 1942.
Charlie died 27 May 1945 aged 31 years of malaria at Sandakan 1 Camp. He was buried at No. 2 Cemetery (which was in use until 29 May 1945).
The 2nd March of 536 POWS had begun their departure in groups of 50 men on 29 May 1945 – leaving 288 sick men behind.
Please read further about ‘B’ and ‘E’ Forces Borneo.
Also please see the Map of Sandakan to Ranau map and photos of the men who perished there.
In 1948, the Harris family was struck down with another tragedy. Cecil was killed in a motor car accident aged 22 years near Yarloop. His body was buried at Boyanup Cemetery.
Charlie’s father Edward Charles Harris died 1955 and his mother Ellen Curley (nee Winwood) died 1981 at Bunbury.
They were both buried at Boyanup Cemetery, as well as older brother Roy Harris.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Sandakan - Borneo ***