Albert Harris

He was the son of Henry James and Lucy Annie Harris and the brother of Harry, Ernest, Lucy Annie and Elsie Harris. In 1911 they lived at 99 Brushfield Street Radford Nottingham. He was the husband of Annie (née Johnson) Harris and the father of Annie and Albert Harris. Soldiers effects - AF W5070 (family form) sent 30/6/19; 8/12/17 - £2-16s-7d to sole legate, widow Annie; 1/12/19 - £12 war gratuity to Lizzie Sparke, guardian; Lizzie would be the Guardian of the two children after the death of their Father and then Mother.

He was a threader on a Leavers machine.

Nottingham

21117 Private Albert Harris enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on or about the 29 December 1914, possibly as a special reservist, as he did not join the 1st battalion overseas until 24 August 1915. The Third Battles of Ypres began on 31 July 1917, when the at 3.50am, the troops went over the top attacking towards Passchendale. The battalion attacked through Hooge, the the marshy ground near Bellewaarde Lake an on to the various ridges that led to Westhoek. Hooge was taken fairly easily but the enemy waited in strong points to the east of Bellewaarde Lake and in the trenches on Bellewaarde Ridge. Despite having to neutralise these concrete defences, the battalion had in the first hour cleared Chateau Wood, swept over the southern slopes of Bellewaarde Ridge and established a defence in the enemy support trench. The next hurdle was a strongly fortified position at the crossroads on the Frenzenburg Road near Westhoek. The battalion bombers stalked and then attacked, taking the strongpoint. 2 enemy officers and 40 other ranks being captured and sent to the rear. The battalion then passed through the Northamptonshire Regiment and fought their way to the crest of Westhoek Ridge, were they established a line of defence. When other troops arrived the capture of Westhoek village was completed. The enemy laid down artillery barrages and attempted counter attacks but the line held firm. Albert was one of some 80 men killed and he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Leavers lace machines John Levers adapted John Heathcoat's bobbinet machine in Nottingham in 1813. The name of the machine was the Leavers machine (the 'a' was added to aid pronunciation in France). The original machine made net but it was discovered that the Jacquard apparatus (invented in France for weaving looms by J M Jacquard in about 1800) could be adapted to it. From 1841 lace complete with pattern, net and outline could be made on the Leavers machine. The Leavers machine is probably the most versatile of all machines for making patterned lace and was widely used throughout Nottingham's lace industry. (Wikipedia) Soldiers Died in the Great War - Harris Albert, born and enlisted Nottingham, 21117, Private, Killed in Action, France and Flanders, 31/7/17.