Rifleman 1st Battallion, Monmouthshire Regiment.

Died 23rd March 1917, aged 19.

Wilfred was the youngest son of Henry and Margaret Harris, who lived at Carrow Hill. Henry ran a Market Garden from their home, which is now called Fir Tree Cottage. The small fields which made up the holding are now incorporated into the surrounding farm land.

Wilfred had a sister and five brothers. The family were keen church people and all the boys in their turn became choirboys at St Brides’ Church. They were also music lovers and the cottage ended up with two organs and a piano, which were played mainly by Wilfred’s sister. The sister was the church organist for many years. One of the organs remained in place until 1979 when the cottage was renovated.

Little is known of Wilfred as an individual. As the 'baby' of the family, pictured here in 1908 aged 10, he was always rather a favourite child. It seems he was sent to fight in France but finally died of pneumonia back in Britain in March 1917. Thus Wilfred and his older brother James have servicemen’s graves alongside each other in St Brides’ churchyard.

JN December 1997