Harris, CA

2nd Lieutenant Cecil Alfred Harris

Born on April 8th 1888, Cecil was the only boy amongst the three children of George Harris, who worked in administration for a fruit and vegetable distributors, and his wife, Mary. He came to the College in the spring of 1901, having previously been at the Prep, and was a pupil for four and a half years, leaving at the end of 1905. On leaving Dulwich he went on to study at London University, and after graduating took a position working in the City as a clerk with the Canadian Bank of Commerce.
Soon after the declaration of war in the summer of 1914, Cecil signed up with the Inns of Court O.T.C., and after training was given a commission in the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. In late 1915, while still based in England, he requested to be allowed to go to the front, and was subsequently attached to the 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. He went to France with his new unit in 1916, and was still serving with them when seriously wounded near Les Boeufs, on the Somme, on October 31st. He died as a result of these wounds less than a week later, on November 3rd 1916, at the age of 28.