The AIF Project

Laurence HARRIOTT

Regimental number4509
Place of birthRyde, New South Wales
SchoolRedfern Public School, Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Address66 Renwick Street, Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation28
Height5' 8"
Next of kinMother, Mrs J Harriott, 66 Renwick Street, Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date15 February 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll15 July 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name13th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/30/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on 16 December 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 16 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles)
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot IV, Row C, Grave No 6), France
Commemoration details
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
159
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Thomas and Mary HARRIOTT, 119 Devonshire Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 16 February 1916; disembarked Egypt, 22 March 1916.

Joined 54th Bn, Ferry Post, 1 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Killed in action, 19/20 July 1916.

Translation of German report, 13 November 1919, 'Iden: Disc handed over by Intell: Officer with 6th Army H.Q. 12/10/19[.] Australian Pte. Harriot, 4509, 54th Btn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles on 19/7/16'.

Red Cross File No 1270814 has statement from 3573 Sergeant P.H. MILGATE, 2 September 1916: 'I knew Harriott, he was in A. Co. and his initial was L. ... I saw him killed at Fleurbaix on the 19th. July, by a bullet and am quite sure that it was L. Harriott and that he was killed outright.'

'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

Second statement, 4170 J. CARR, A Company, 54th Bn (patient, 2nd Birmingham War Hospital, Hollymoor, England), 2 January 1917: 'On July 19/20 1916 at Fromelles this man was killed in German trench. He was engaged with a German and raised his rifle to fire, but as he pressed the trigger found his "safety catch" on, and the German was able to shoot him before he was able to adjust it. The German was then shot by a man named Plater, who is now missing himself.'

Third statement, 4407 G.H. BUCKLEY, A Company, 54th Bn (patient, Randwick Hospital), 15 June 1917: 'He was with the battalion on 19th July 1916 at Armentieres in the evening about 5.30 to 6 p.m. Harriott was standing on the top of the German Trench and endeavoured to shoot a German, but his rifle failed to go off, and the German from his dug-out shot Harriott, and Informant saw the latter fall back dead.'

'Identity disc received from Germany, and forwarded to Next of Kin 20.6.17.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 10), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
Miscellaneous detailsEnlistee gave place of birth as Parramatta; mother as Ryde, New South Wales.
SourcesNAA: B2455, HARRIOTT Laurence
Red Cross file 1270814

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