Special Constable John William Thomas Harris Special Constabulary
The Man John William Thomas Harris was born on Friday 6th November 1885, in Hackney, London, son of Joseph Thomas, a Bootmaker and Rebecca nee Mitchell. He had one sister, Hettie born in 1888. In the census of 1891, the family were living with Joseph’s father, John aged 78, at 34 Aspland Grove.
By 1901, the family were living at 7, Sylvester Road and John aged 15, shown working for the General Post Office as a Messenger. In November 1902 his appointment as an Assistant Postman was confirmed in the GPO Register and in 1903 aged 18 as a Postman in London. His appointment appearing in the London and Edinburgh Gazettes of 8th and 11th December 1903 respectively.
In 1909 John was living at 13 Sylvester Road and on Sunday 18th April 1909, married Alice Rachel Northage in the Parish Church of St John-at-Hackney. They had one son Sidney John born on 13th August 1910 and lived at 118 Durrington Road, Hackney.
John appears not to have seen service overseas during World War I but at some time after 1915 joined the Special Constabulary being awarded the Long Service Medal at some time before 1930.
John continued working at the Post Office and by 1939 had risen to Head Messenger. Now aged 54 he was living at 19 Haselmere Road, Bexley Heath with Alice, Sidney and Sidney’s wife Margaret Elizabeth. During World War II, he saw service in one of the Civil Defence organisations, possibly Air Raid Precautions with the GPO and awarded the Defence Medal.
In 1945 aged 60, he retired from the Post Office as Head Messenger in the Personnel Department of the GPO and awarded the Imperial Service Medal, this appearing in the London Gazette of 15th February 1946.
In 1948 John was still living with Alice, Sidney and Margaret at 19 Haselmere Road. On 11th October 1951, aged 65, he passed away and was cremated at the Honor Oak Crematorium, Southwark on 17th and his ashes scattered under a rose tree.
Alice lived a further 26 years passing away in the second quarter of 1977 and Sidney on 25th February 1987.
By 1901, the family were living at 7, Sylvester Road and John aged 15, shown working for the General Post Office as a Messenger. In November 1902 his appointment as an Assistant Postman was confirmed in the GPO Register and in 1903 aged 18 as a Postman in London. His appointment appearing in the London and Edinburgh Gazettes of 8th and 11th December 1903 respectively.
In 1909 John was living at 13 Sylvester Road and on Sunday 18th April 1909, married Alice Rachel Northage in the Parish Church of St John-at-Hackney. They had one son Sidney John born on 13th August 1910 and lived at 118 Durrington Road, Hackney.
John appears not to have seen service overseas during World War I but at some time after 1915 joined the Special Constabulary being awarded the Long Service Medal at some time before 1930.
John continued working at the Post Office and by 1939 had risen to Head Messenger. Now aged 54 he was living at 19 Haselmere Road, Bexley Heath with Alice, Sidney and Sidney’s wife Margaret Elizabeth. During World War II, he saw service in one of the Civil Defence organisations, possibly Air Raid Precautions with the GPO and awarded the Defence Medal.
In 1945 aged 60, he retired from the Post Office as Head Messenger in the Personnel Department of the GPO and awarded the Imperial Service Medal, this appearing in the London Gazette of 15th February 1946.
In 1948 John was still living with Alice, Sidney and Margaret at 19 Haselmere Road. On 11th October 1951, aged 65, he passed away and was cremated at the Honor Oak Crematorium, Southwark on 17th and his ashes scattered under a rose tree.
Alice lived a further 26 years passing away in the second quarter of 1977 and Sidney on 25th February 1987.
The Story The medal trio awarded to John William Thomas Harris were acquired from E-Bay on 14th January 2023 and of interest because of the double long service and lengthy name combination.
Ancestry and the London Gazette enabled a general biography to be pieced together allowing another hitherto forgotten person, who served and worked for his country for many years, to be remembered.
The medals remain ‘mounted as worn’ in the correct order for 1945.
Ancestry and the London Gazette enabled a general biography to be pieced together allowing another hitherto forgotten person, who served and worked for his country for many years, to be remembered.
The medals remain ‘mounted as worn’ in the correct order for 1945.
Naming around John William Thomas Harris's medals
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long: JOHN W.T.HARRIS
- Imperial Service Medal: JOHN WILLIAM THOMAS HARRIS
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This page last updated 4 Apr 23
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