Mystery man on Town Hall Memorial - A.B. Harris

Post by **daggers** » 16 Feb 2010 14:58

The name of A.B. Harris [not an able seaman from the context, but initials] is on the WW1 Roll of Honour in the Town Hall, not once, but three times.
One entry shows him as having served in the Antigua Light Horse, a unit which nothing is known about, the second has him with the Antigua Defence Force and the third entry gives no unit. No dates are shown on the Roll.

The name is also on the University of Liverpool memorial, but someone researching that list cannot find anything about him.

Can any of our sleuths find anything more about this man? He has not been found in the War Graves Commission's register, the 1911 census or elsewhere.

[Many duplications have been found among the 13000-odd names on the Roll, perhaps because they were submitted by different members of the family.]
Daggers

Post by **marchbird** » 16 Feb 2010 16:16

Hi Daggers

I think A.B. Harris must have been at Liverpool University in the Cancer Research Laboratory because there is an article in the Biochemical Journal 1912 submitted by him and J.O. Wakelin Barratt "Observations on Electro-Osmosis". I would have thought the University would have had some information on him in their records.

Marchbird

Post by **Gray** » 16 Feb 2010 16:16

Hi Daggers,

Not sure if this is your man?

Only chap I can find is a:

Albert Buckley Harris

West Derby dec 1887 8b 312

This would make him 27 in 1914

There are three Albert Harris listed on the 1911 about the right age, none with a middle initial. All living in the west derby dist.

Could not find a marriage for him in L.pool, however there are possibilities elsewhere. None have the middle name 'Buckley' just the initial 'B'

Gray

Post by **daggers** » 16 Feb 2010 17:16

My thanks to you both for these replies. What a range of knowledge and contacts we have here! I will forward the information to my man at the Victoria Tower.

D

Post by **daggers** » 16 Feb 2010 23:19

With Harris's first names, Albert Buckley, Google Books has come up with more links to Liverpool University, which will be pursued there. 1911 census shows him as a research chemist, too.
Thanks again.
D

Post by **his latest flame** » 17 Feb 2010 20:19

The November 1914 'Xaverian' magazine for the parish and school of St Francis Xavier in Everton has this item:

DEATH OF AN OLD XAVERIAN

The news has been confirmed of the death of Mr Albert Beechley-Harris, on September 21st, at Antigua, British West Indies, where he had been for two years as an analytical chemist. The young gentleman was a former student of St Francis Xavier's College, graduating to the Liverpool University, where he took his M.Sc. degree. He also worked under Dr. Barrett in the Cancer Research Laboratory, finally leaving for the West Indies. Last year he joined the Antigua Defence Force, and took a keen interest in it. On September 21st he had to attend a compulsory drill, and left Guana Island to cross to the mainland, wearing his military equipment, on horseback, and was drowned in the channel. It has been proved that his horse must have taken fright and thrown and stunned him, for he was an expert swimmer. His body was found later in the day. He was buried with military honours by his sorrowing comrades of the Antigua Defence Force. His untimely death is deeply deplored on all sides. He was the first hero of the war in Antigua, British West Indies.

Post by **MaryA** » 18 Feb 2010 13:47

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Wonderful that your first posting is such a triumph.

Thank you

Post by **daggers** » 18 Feb 2010 14:45

Just back from 24 hours away and delighted to find such a reply. This applies the definitive answer to the Antigua question, and the only remaining query is the difference in name- Albert 'Buckley Harris' or 'Beechley-Harris'. Perhaps it is a mistranscription on Free BMD?

I shall look into it armed with the new information.
D

Post by **Gray** » 18 Feb 2010 15:24

Hi daggers & all,

I looked at the original image on free bmd the other day, it definitely has 'Buckley' as the middle name.

How sad for such an amazing man!!!

edit: I have been willing you to read the last reply!!

Gray

Post by **daggers** » 18 Feb 2010 17:42

Thinking about the Buckley/Beechley bit - the 1911 census clearly has Buckley, so I think the SFX editor may have misread someone's writing, and withdraw my criticism of FREEBMD which has been so useful to me and others.
D

Post by **Tina** » 18 Feb 2010 22:21

Mornin' All

Ellis Island has the arrival of Albert B Harris on 21st Dec 1912, 25yrs old, bn Lpool, single aboard the Lusitania.
He was 5ft 8 fair complexion brown hair grey eyes, had $50 on him and had paid his own fare.
c/-Henckerhl?? du Boisson Company, Antigua, B.W.I

Tina

Post by **Tina** » 18 Feb 2010 22:54

Me again

1901 census Soho St off Islington
Joseph Harris 35 french polisher employer at home
Mary E 33, Albert B 13, Gertrude A 11, Joseph jr 9 all bn Lpool.

Marriage Lancs BMD 1886
Joseph Harris to Mary E Buckley

Tina

Post by **daggers** » 18 Feb 2010 23:17

Just on the way to bed, but Tina, you have clinched the Buckley or Beechley query with that last detail. Great stuff!
Now to find out if there is a memorial in Antigua bearing Harris's name, and should he be on the War Graves Commission register?...
D

Post by **Tina** » 19 Feb 2010 08:02

Thanks Daggers........
I hope you had a good kip

Not sure how to find info about Antigua?
No doubt someone will know!!

Tina

Post by **daggers** » 19 Feb 2010 08:28

Bright and frosty here, to wake me up! EDIT - spoke too soon -it clouded over almost at once, dropped some snow/sleet for a few minutes, then all the area power failed for a while. Back to power, grey skies etc, now.

Has anyone access to overseas death registrations which I think may be on Ancestry? Albert Buckley Harris, Antigua, September 1914.
If he is on that list we should be able to get a death cert in UK but in case he is not I have emailed the Antigua High Commission in London for advice on how to get a cert from source.
D

Post by **Hilary** » 19 Feb 2010 09:29

Try GRO Army War Deaths - they'll be at Liverpool Library.

Otherwise it could be under GRO Overseas Consular Deaths again I'd expect them to be at Liverpool

Or ring the GRO and ask if they will have a death registration for a war death in Antigua

Hilary
Ed Officer

Post by **daggers** » 19 Feb 2010 09:44

Thanks for the tips.
D

Post by **MaryA** » 19 Feb 2010 14:21

You may wish to watch to see if any suggestions are thrown up on this thread.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.ph ... n.html#new

Post by **Katie** » 21 Feb 2010 17:24

Hi

while I was at Liverpool today I checked the Consular returns for deaths, Army deaths anything where I might find an entry for Albert Buckley Harris. I also checked to see if there was probate for him. There was nothing I didnt have time to look to see if there was an obit.

If I think of anything I will let you know.

Post by **daggers** » 21 Feb 2010 20:56

Kathy
Thanks for trying - that has saved me a fruitless search. I have been given a Registrar's email add in Antigua and have fired off a request.
D