Military service
Burial/memorial information
Digital gallery of Pilot Officer William Arthur Harris
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Newspaper Clipping
Source: Globe and Mail November 3, 1942 -
The Soldiers’ Tower
The Soldiers’ Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower’s base. In total, almost 1200 names are inscribed. A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers’ Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations. -
Memorial Room
Soldiers’ Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations. -
Memorial Arch
The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers’ Tower in 1949. The name of “P/O W. A. HARRIS R.C.A.F.” is among the names inscribed. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations. -
Memorial Book
University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Published by the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 27 reads: “P/O William Arthur HARRIS RCAF, 83 Sqn RAF. BASc 1938. Killed in an air operation over Essen, Germany, 9 March 1942. Name inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial, Cooper's Hill, Egham, Surrey, England.” -
Biography
Photograph of Harris from Torontonensis, University of Toronto's yearbook in 1938. -
Newspaper Clipping
Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper Clipping
Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper Clipping
Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper Clipping
Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Memorial
Pilot Officer William Arthur Harris is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Pilot Officer William Arthur Harris is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Newspaper clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Photo of WILLIAM ARTHUR HARRIS
Colin Rous, Billy (William Harris), Jack Harris and Colin Rous Sr. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Photo of WILLIAM ARTHUR HARRIS
.Harris Family c 1918. Mary, John Jr, Alicia, Willam and John Sr. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Letter
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Document
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Letter
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Letter
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Document
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Photo of WILLIAM ARTHUR HARRIS
. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star March 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star June 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star June 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Telegram June 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 80 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Surrey, United Kingdom
The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:
IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE
In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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