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PTE: Harris, Richard Thomas

Richard Thomas Harris, born about 1883,Swansea (possibly Pentregethin road).1


Parents: Richard, age 58,born, Neath, Glamorgan, a Mariner?, and Rachel Harris, age 48, born, Newcastle in Emlyn, Carmarthenshire,. Daughter: Mary A. Thomas, Tinplate Worker, age 26.  Brothers: William J. Tinplate Worker, age 15, Daniel D, a Scholar, age 10 and Richard T. a Scholar, age 8.  All the children were born in Swansea, Glamorgan. They all spoke both Welsh and English, and lived in Pentregethin road, at the Cwmbwrla end, Swansea.1


Parent: Rachel Harris, Widow, Housekeeper, age 60. Sons: William John, single, a worker, age 25, Daniel Oliver, single, Tinplate worker, age20 and Richard Thomas, single, a Behinder in Tinplate works, age 18. They all lived at 56, Pentregethin road, (Parish of St. Peters, Cockett), Swansea.2


Died 30th May 1915 age 32, Welsh Regiment 6th Battalion, a Bandsman, Service No. 317.3


Age 32, Grave Reference: Plot A. Row 1. Grave2. Calais Southern Cemetry, Pas de Calais, France.  Husband of Margaret J. Harris, of 4, Bryn Terrace, Middle Road, Cwmbwrla, Swansea.4

“ROLL OF HONOUR
PATIENCE, ENDURANCE, VALOUR
“SPECIAL SOUVENIR EDITION OF CAMBRIA DAILY LEADER”
RICHARD THOMAS & CO., LTD., CWMBWRLA TINPLATE WORKS.
George Chugg, Devon Regiment. R. T. Harris, 6th Welsh Regiment. George Osborne, Somerset Light Infantry. Joseph Rees, Somerset Light Infantry. W. Picton. Somerset Light Infantry. H. Greenslade, Somerset Light Infantry. W. Pitman, Somerset Light Infantry. Frank Warren, Somerset Light Infantry. Patrick Redden, 41st Welsh Regiment. David Davies, Royal Field Artillery. Thomas James, East Lancashire Regt. Gomer David, South Lancashire Regt. Thomas Lewis, Munster Fusiliers. Lewis Richards, 6th Welsh Regiment. Chris Smith, Devon Regiment. Wm. John Hill, Devon Regiment. Wm. John Hill, 6th Welsh Regiment. E. Sullivan, Munster Fusiliers. Fred Dyer, Army Service Corp.” 5

“A GOOD RECRUITING DAY.
 For Army recruiting Monday was the best day in Swansea for a considerable time, seventeen men being passed and attested at Mond Buildings. Of these, seven (R. T. Harris, W. J. Lewis, C. Jones, D. Davies, W. Williams, J. R. Davies and H. J. Milford) were for the Swansea Battalion: two were for the 3rd Welsh, two for the 15th Welsh, two for the East Lancs, and one each for the 13th Welsh (Bantams), Shropshires Somersets, and Welsh R. F. A. The number of men coming forward for the Glamorgan Bantam Battalion has not come up to expectation.”6

“THANKS FOR SYMPATHY.
HARRIS. – Mrs. R. T. Harris, 4, Bryn terrace, Middle road, Cwmbwrla, wishes to thank all kind friends for expressions sympathy, also for letter from Lord Kitchener, received by her in her recent sad bereavement on the loss of her husband, Bandsman R. T. Harris.”7

Medals: Victory, British & Star.8

SOURCE
1 1891 Census Wales
2 1901 Census Wales
3 UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
4 Commonwealth War Graves Commission
5 Cambrian Daily Leader 23.10.1914
6 Cambrian Daily Leader 05.01.1915
7 Cambrian Daily Leader 23.07.1915
8 UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920