One of the most challenging things about history is that so much of it is based on extrapolation (another word for an educated guess based on the evidence!).

The memorial plaque in St Peter’s Church includes the name of Private J Harrison, with the implication that he served in the King’s Liverpool Regiment. However, despite Tom Canty’s best efforts, athough he found listings for a number of J Harrisons who served in the KLR, he was unable to definitively connect any of these to Woolton.

He did, however, find evidence for a John Harrison, who is listed on the St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Woolton memorial, who served in the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry and whose parents lived in Woolton. It seems probable, therefore, that this may also be the J Harrison who is listed on the memorial in St Peter’s Church, and that his attribution to the KLR was an error or an assumption. It’s not at all unusual for men to be listed in more than one place and or for there to be some confusion on the details.

Private John Harrison was born in Woolton to William and Ellen Harrison, in 1881. He came from a large family, and the 1891 census records him as having four brothers, James (15), Peter (14), William (8) and newborn Arthur, and four sisters Mary (12) Sarah (6), Ellen (4), Jane (3), and Ann (1).

By the time war broke out, John had married Mary, and the couple lived at 1 Olive Lane Wavertree. He died on May 14, 1916, from dysentry.

Private John Harrison is remembered with Honour at the Suez War Military Cemetery.

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