Company Sergeant Major John Harrison

Army Number: 9102

Battalion: 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment.

Awards: M.M. (Military Medal)

Born at Derby and lived at Darley Abbey, Derbyshire. Brother of George Wade Harrison, of 8 Bleach Yard, Nun Street, Derby. He was a Horse Dealer prior to enlisting on 19th January 1904 at Derby. He served in Singapore from 4th November 1905 to 11th December 1906 and in India from 12th December 1906 to 2nd September 1914. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 9th October 1914 and went to France on 4th November 1914. He was admitted to 25th Field Ambulance on 28th November 1914, suffering from frostbite and was transferred to England on Hospital Ship Carisbrooke Castle, on 21st December 1914. He returned to France on 9th March 1916 and was promoted to Sergeant on 3rd December 1916. He was awarded the Military Medal, London Gazette 21st December 1916, “For gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on the enemy positions at Arrow Head Copse, Guillemont, on 13th September 1916”. He was appointed Company Sergeant Major on 28th April 1917 and was killed in action, on 3rd July 1917, whilst the battalion was moving into billets Bully Grenay, France.

Buried: Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. Plot 7. Row J. Grave 10.

Company Sergeant Major Harrison is also commemorated on the following local memorials:-
St, Mathew’s Church War Memorial, Darley Abbey, Derbyshire.