Oliver Westbrooke Harrison

Sapper, Royal Engineers (Inland Waterways and Docks)

Oliver Westbrooke Harrison was a student at Alleyn's until 1903 and lived at 4 Thorncombe Road, East Dulwich with his parents, Henry and Ada, and his sister, Marjorie. He was employed as a clerk until he joined the war effort in July 1917 at the age of 18. After being declared as medically fit for service, Oliver joined the Royal Engineers as part of the Inland Waterways and Docks section. This special section of the RE was formed in 1915 and was responsible for the construction and maintenance of transportation routes on the canals and waterways of France and Belgium. Oliver served with the IW & D section until the end of the war and he was discharged in March 1919.