Trooper John Harrison (409184) served in 7th Battalion Queen's Own Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps during the Second World War. He was the son of Thomas A. Harrison and the stepson of Margaret Harrison of 264 Ravenhill Avenue, Belfast.
Harrison became a Prisoner of War during the Italian campaign and was held at PG49, Fontanellato, Parma, Italy. On 8th September 1943, Commandant Colonel Eugenio Vicedomini opened the camp gates following the Italian surrender. Around 600 Officers and members of the Allied Forces walked out to freedom. It is unclear whether Trooper Harrison was one of the 600.
John Harrison died on 10th April 1944 aged 27 years old. A newspaper report from 1945 suggests he was returning from fighting between Partisans and German forces at his time of death. By this stage of the war, he had 9 years’ service. Initially, the villagers gave Harrison a public funeral at Bedonia Cemetery, Emilia-Romagna, Parma, Italy.
His Commonwealth War Graves Commission grave is in Section III, Row A, Grave 23 of Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa, Italy. His headstone bears the inscription:
The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1st John 1.7.