Charles Arthur Harris (1916 - 1999)

Born 1 Jul 1916 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Joan Ethel (Croxton) Harris — married 1940 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 1999 at about age 82 in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Charles Arthur was born in 1916 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, the son of Charles Henry Harris and Myrtle Annie Harris formerly Hallard. ^[1]

The 1939 Register, taken on 29 September 1939, has been described as a snapshot of the civilian population of England and Wales just after the outbreak of the Second World War. The Register recorded each person's address, date of birth and occupation.
At that time Charles was living with his parents at 97 Alexander Road, Smethwick, Staffordshire. He was aged 23 and was a qualified butcher, working as a manager. His date of birth was recorded as 1 July 1916. ^[2]

Charles A Harris married Joan E Brough in 1940. ^[3]

WWII records recorded Charles enlisted with the Royal Artillery, Regimental No. 975452. He was posted to 77th AA regiment on 16 May 1940. ^[4]
Charles Arthur Harris, born 1 July 1916, was taken as a Prisoner of War by Japanese in 1942. At that time he was a Lance Bombardier. He was held in a camp in Malaya.
His next of kin was listed as his wife Joan Ethel Harris of 216 Woolley [Weoley] Park Rd, Selby Oak, Birmingham and his parents were named as Charles Henry and Myrtle Annie Harris. ^[5]

For further information regarding the situation leading up to Charles becoming a POW see - https://www.cofepow.org.uk/armed-forces-stories-list/java-gunners

Charles Arthur Harris died in 1999 aged 82 years. His date of birth was recorded as 1 July 1916. ^[6]

Joan Ethel Harris died in 1999 aged 81 years. Her date of birth was recorded as 21 October 1917. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp
   GRO Birth Index
   HARRIS, CHARLES ARTHUR Mother's maiden name HALLARD
   GRO Reference: 1916 S Quarter in BASFORD Volume 07B Page 488
2. ↑ 1939 Register RG101/5258K/006/37 Letter Code: OMDT
3. ↑ GRO Marriage Index - Mar Qtr 1940/Birmingham 6d 658
4. ↑ Record can be viewed at Find My Past - Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942
5. ↑ Index cards can be viewed at Find My Past - Prisoners Of War 1715-1945 and at Ancestry.com. UK, World War II Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
   Original data: The National Archives; Kew, London, England; WO 345 Japanese Index Cards of Allied POWs 1942-1947; Reference Number: WO 345/23
6. ↑ GRO Death Index - June 1999/Solihull South (0731A) Reg A39F Entry Number 272 – DOB 1 Jul 1916
7. ↑ GRO Death Index – Jun 1999/ Solihull South (0731A) Reg A39F Entry Number 262 – DOB 21 Oct 1917