Archie Cosway Harriman

HARRIMAN, Archie Cosway- – – – – SPC 1910-1912

DoB:- – c1896, Mildura, VIC

Father:– – Ben John Harriman

Mother:– – Elizabeth Anne, nee Chapman / Chaplin

Archie Harriman attained a complete pass in the Junior Public exams in 1912, in the following subjects: Geometry (Distinction), English, French, History, Geography and Algebra.

Service No:- 11772

Rank:– – Private, Driver

Unit:– 26th Australian Divisional Supply Column / 3rd Divisional Motor Transport

Archie Cosway enlisted on 14 December 1915. He was 20 years and one month old, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was a single man, whose occupation was a motor Driver and mechanic. He was five feet, five and a half inches tall.

In April 1916 Archie was assigned as a driver to the 3rd Divisional Supply Column, and he embarked for service overseas on 5 June, arriving at Marseilles, France on 20 July.

Private Harriman suffered a gunshot wound to his scalp in France on 1 September 1916, and the incident was reported as being accidentally self-inflicted. The following month, October 1916, he sustained another gunshot wound in action, being hit in the head and face and suffering from cerebral concussion. He was evacuated to England for treatment.

By December 1916 Private Harriman was well enough to march in to the ASC (Australian Supply Column) training depot at Parkhouse, where he undertook further training until mid-February 1917. He was transferred from the ASC to the Motor Transport Coy on 5 June 1917.

It appears that Private Harriman remained on service in England, apart from a brief time in February 1919 where he proceeded to France with his unit. By 9 March 1919 he was back in England awaiting his return to Australia. He embarked aboard the Frankfurt on 1 July, and arrived in Melbourne on 20 August 1919.

After his return to civilian life, Archie married Alexandrina Angus in East St Kilda in 1921. He was 25 years at the time. He worked as an engineer in his professional life, and he and his wife settled in the Melbourne suburb of East Hawthorn. They had one child, a daughter named Ellen Angus Harriman in 1923.

Archie died on 14 February 1983 at the age of 87 years. He was buried at the Cheltenham Cemetery, Victoria.