Pte 38470 Reginald Harrison

• Age: 21
• From: Douglas, IOM
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Reginald was born in Douglas, Isle of Man on the 06^th October 1895. He was the son of Livingstone Harrison and his wife Margaret Ann (nee Skinner) of 3 Castle Terraces, Central Promenade, Douglas, who were married at Kirk Bradden Isle of Man on the 04^th November 1884. Reginald's known siblings were John, Wilfred, Harold, Ruby, Cyril, Frank and Arthur. Two other siblings Edith and Ivy died at a young age. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 32 Woodbourne Square, Douglas. His father, Livingstone, is aged 40, a sewing machine agent, his mother Mary A. is aged 38. They have seven children in the household; John L. 16 a hairdresser, Wilfred 14, Harold 12, Ruby E. 8, Cyril 6, Frank 4 and Arthur 6 months. (everybody born Douglas).

By 1911 the family are still living at 32 Woodbourne Square, Douglas. His father, Livingston, aged 51 is now shown as an agent for the Singer sewing machine company, mother Mary Ann is aged 45. They have been married for 26 years and have had 12 children  with 8 having survived. Those children listed in the household are; John Livingston 25 a hairdresser, Wilfred 23 a hairdresser, Harold 21 an apprentice hairdresser, Ruby 17, Reginald aged 15, an apprentice hairdresser, Cyril 14 at school, Frank 10 at school, and Arthur 8. They have a relative Annie Shenna 74 staying.

Reginald joined the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 38470.

He was killed in action on 31/07/1917, aged 21, this was the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele.

20^th Battalion

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

At this point a message was sent to Brigade HQ advising that Companies were digging in on and consolidating a line running south from Stirling Castle.

The 20^th Battalion was relieved on the night of 03^rd – 04^th August. During this time the Battalion lost one officer 2^nd Lieutenant G.G. Nickel and 42 men killed or died of wounds with six officers and 149 men wounded.  

Reginald was one of the casualties referred to. 

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is on the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium. 

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Reginald's death was the second tragedy to befall the Harrison family as his older brother Harold had died of wounds on 27th June 1917, aged 23, just a month before Reginald. Pte M2/097733 Harold Harrison was serving with the Mechanical Transport section of the Army Service Corps.

Harold now rests at Brandhoek Cemetery in Belgium. His headstone bears a poignant epitaph in respect of his brother who has no known grave:

"ALSO IN MEMORY OF 38470 PRIVATE R HARRISON KING'S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT KILLED 31.7.17 AGED 20". 

Harold's death was reported in the Isle of Man Examiner, on Saturday, July 14, 1917: 

PRIVATE H. HARRISON DIES FROM WOUNDS 

Mr and Mrs T. Harrison , of G Mona Terrace, Douglas, have received word that their son, Private Harold Harrison, of the Mechanical Transport (A.S.C), died ou the 27th June from wounds received in France the previous day. He was 22 years of age, and bad been twelve months on-active service.

Reginald was originally posted as Missing and this was reported in the Mona's Herald, Wednesday, August 22nd 1917:

Manxmen's Part in the Great War. 

MISSING. 

Private Reginald Harrison, son of Mr L. Harrison, of Mona-terrace, Douglas, is unofficially reported missing. The news is contained in a letter from Pte. A. Quayle, of 31, Peel-road. Douglas, who states that he and two others were on a scouting expedition, when one of them got wounded, he returned safely, and that Harrison was missing, but that it is quite likely he is a prisoner of war. Prior to enlisting Pte. Harrison was a hairdresser in Douglas. A brother of his, Pte. Harold Harrison, M.T.A.S.C, was killed in action some weeks ago.

Both brothers are commemorated on the Memorial at St Thomas's Church, Douglas, Isle of Man. 

There are a couple of discrepancies in relation to the brothers ages on CWGC. However, the date of birth for Reginald is known to be 06/10/1895 making him 21 at the time of his death. Harold was baptised on 18/04/1894 which means he would be 23 at the time of his death. CWGC record the ages respectively as 20 and 22.

Their mother died, aged 63, in 1929.

Their father died, aged 71, in 1933.

We currently have no further information on Reginald Harrison. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.