HARRIS, Walter William James
Born 27 August 1903; died 16 December 1918; buried 17 December 1918; age 15
Walter was born in Wellington, son of Walter Le Burn Dorney Harris and Adeline Josephine BROWN. A brother, Frederick, was born on 8 August 1906 but died on 18 August. Frederick was buried in the public section of Karori Cemetery.
Their father, the son of James and Jane Harris, was born in 1875 in Greytown and was one of 14 children. In 1902 Walter Snr married Adeline on 20 September in the Registrar’s Office in Wellington. (Adeline died in 1941 and Walter Snr in 1952. Both are buried in Karori Cemetery with their son Walter Jnr.)
In Wellington, the family lived in the Te Aro area, in Jacob’s Place, Bute Street, Cambridge Terrace and then Lorne Street. Walter Snr was listed as a driver in the electoral rolls over the years. Walter’s employer was Thompson Bros.
On 17 April 1909, Walter Jnr was enrolled at the Mt Cook Infants School, transferring from South Wellington.
His father enlisted for military service on 11 June 1918. Although he was to go to the Featherston training camp, he was granted leave without pay and later received further orders that he had been demobilised. He was discharged on 21 November 1918.
Meanwhile his son Walter Jnr had been taking part in the activities at the Wellington Boys Institute, which was founded in June 1892. Initially set up at the corner of Cuba and Victoria streets, it later moved to Tasman Street. It was set up for the spiritual, mental and physical improvement of the working boys of Wellington. Two services were held each Sunday for Bible study. The institute was just for the working boys —those with comfortable homes were not admitted to membership. To foster a spirit of independence, a fee of sixpence per month was charged each lad who was able to pay.
It is not known what activities Walter attended, but a newspaper reported in November 1918 that a large number of staff and boys had influzena.
Walter Jnr died at his home on 16 December. He was buried in Karori Cemetery on 17 December.
The Evening Post published a death notice on 16 December:
HARRIS.-On the 16th December, 1918, at his parents' residence, 55, Cambridge-terrace, Walter William James, beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter L. D. Harris; aged 15 years.
HARRIS.—On the 16th December, 1918, at his parents' residence, 55, Cambridge-terrace, Wallie, only child of Walter and Adeline Harris, beloved nephew of Mrs. Benge, Owen street; aged 15 years and 4 months. Safe in the arms of Jesus.
A notice of thanks was published in the Evening Post 19 December 1918:
MR. AND MRS. W. Harris, of 55, Cambridge terrace, and Mrs. BENGE, 56, Owen-street, sincerely thank all their kind friends for the sympathy shown in their sad loss, especially Dr. Patterson, Mr. and Mrs. Barry, and Mrs. McWilliams for their untiring attention.
The Dominion published a report on 20 December 1918:
BOYS' INSTITUTE PRIZE LIST
At the Boys' Institute annual concert and distribution of prizes, Mr G. A. Troup, the president, touched upon the serious epidemic which had interfered so much with the work of the Institute, that it had to be closed down, and it was impossible to hold the indoor games championships nor, yet the swimming contests, which will, now take place when the schools reopen. Mr Troup spoke in very feeling terms of the death of one of the boys, Walter Harris, on Monday last. He also told the boys the duty they owed to their parents, and exhorted them to do all they possibly could to assist their mothers. He was very pleased with the enthusiasm the boys had shown in the general activities of the institution.
A plaque on Walter’s grave reads:
“A token of respect to Walter Harris from past and present members of the Boys’ Institute”
Just before Walter Jnr died, the Harris family had attended the funeral of his uncle, Henry Lenza Harris. Henry died of influenza on 18 November and was buried at Karori Cemetery on 20 November.
Researched & written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot: 189 E
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Archives New Zealand New Zealand Army World War 1 records – www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. New Zealand Society of Genealogists Kiwi Index for school records
Born 27 August 1903; died 16 December 1918; buried 17 December 1918; age 15
Walter was born in Wellington, son of Walter Le Burn Dorney Harris and Adeline Josephine BROWN. A brother, Frederick, was born on 8 August 1906 but died on 18 August. Frederick was buried in the public section of Karori Cemetery.
Their father, the son of James and Jane Harris, was born in 1875 in Greytown and was one of 14 children. In 1902 Walter Snr married Adeline on 20 September in the Registrar’s Office in Wellington. (Adeline died in 1941 and Walter Snr in 1952. Both are buried in Karori Cemetery with their son Walter Jnr.)
In Wellington, the family lived in the Te Aro area, in Jacob’s Place, Bute Street, Cambridge Terrace and then Lorne Street. Walter Snr was listed as a driver in the electoral rolls over the years. Walter’s employer was Thompson Bros.
On 17 April 1909, Walter Jnr was enrolled at the Mt Cook Infants School, transferring from South Wellington.
His father enlisted for military service on 11 June 1918. Although he was to go to the Featherston training camp, he was granted leave without pay and later received further orders that he had been demobilised. He was discharged on 21 November 1918.
Meanwhile his son Walter Jnr had been taking part in the activities at the Wellington Boys Institute, which was founded in June 1892. Initially set up at the corner of Cuba and Victoria streets, it later moved to Tasman Street. It was set up for the spiritual, mental and physical improvement of the working boys of Wellington. Two services were held each Sunday for Bible study. The institute was just for the working boys —those with comfortable homes were not admitted to membership. To foster a spirit of independence, a fee of sixpence per month was charged each lad who was able to pay.
It is not known what activities Walter attended, but a newspaper reported in November 1918 that a large number of staff and boys had influzena.
Walter Jnr died at his home on 16 December. He was buried in Karori Cemetery on 17 December.
The Evening Post published a death notice on 16 December:
HARRIS.-On the 16th December, 1918, at his parents' residence, 55, Cambridge-terrace, Walter William James, beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter L. D. Harris; aged 15 years.
HARRIS.—On the 16th December, 1918, at his parents' residence, 55, Cambridge-terrace, Wallie, only child of Walter and Adeline Harris, beloved nephew of Mrs. Benge, Owen street; aged 15 years and 4 months. Safe in the arms of Jesus.
A notice of thanks was published in the Evening Post 19 December 1918:
MR. AND MRS. W. Harris, of 55, Cambridge terrace, and Mrs. BENGE, 56, Owen-street, sincerely thank all their kind friends for the sympathy shown in their sad loss, especially Dr. Patterson, Mr. and Mrs. Barry, and Mrs. McWilliams for their untiring attention.
The Dominion published a report on 20 December 1918:
BOYS' INSTITUTE PRIZE LIST
At the Boys' Institute annual concert and distribution of prizes, Mr G. A. Troup, the president, touched upon the serious epidemic which had interfered so much with the work of the Institute, that it had to be closed down, and it was impossible to hold the indoor games championships nor, yet the swimming contests, which will, now take place when the schools reopen. Mr Troup spoke in very feeling terms of the death of one of the boys, Walter Harris, on Monday last. He also told the boys the duty they owed to their parents, and exhorted them to do all they possibly could to assist their mothers. He was very pleased with the enthusiasm the boys had shown in the general activities of the institution.
A plaque on Walter’s grave reads:
“A token of respect to Walter Harris from past and present members of the Boys’ Institute”
Just before Walter Jnr died, the Harris family had attended the funeral of his uncle, Henry Lenza Harris. Henry died of influenza on 18 November and was buried at Karori Cemetery on 20 November.
Researched & written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot: 189 E
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Archives New Zealand New Zealand Army World War 1 records – www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. New Zealand Society of Genealogists Kiwi Index for school records