Richard Harrison enlisted in Liverpool on 16 July 1915, just five days after his father, Frederick Harrison. His older brother Frederick jnr had enlisted in October 1914; another brother, Thomas, would do so in February 1916.
Private Richard Harrison attended training camp for nearly six months before being discharged on 3 January 1916, being “unlikely to become an efficient soldier”.
Undeterred, Richard re-enlisted three weeks later, on 27 January 1916. He embarked from Sydney on 31 March 1916 and was taken on strength with the 13th Battalion at Serapeum, Egypt, on 18 May.
In June 1916 Private Harrison joined the British Expeditionary Force in France. In early September Richard was hospitalised with influenza. He rejoined his unit on 18 October 1916.
In August 1918 Richard was wounded in action, sustaining gunshot wounds to his scalp and right hand. He was admitted to the 6th General Hospital at Rouen but was transferred to the Exeter War Hospital in England the following week.
Following his recovery Private Harrison was granted two weeks’ furlough. He reported for duty on 14 October 1918 but was re-admitted to hospital in mid November, just as peace was declared.
Richard returned to Australia in February 1919 and was discharged from the AIF in April due to medical unfitness.
Richard died in Sydney on 14 August 1938, aged 42 years. He is buried in the Church of England section of Northern Suburbs Cemetery.
Richard’s father and brother Frederick were both invalided home from the war; Thomas was killed in action in France in July 1918.
