Captain Kilroy Harris

              Applications are Invited for Illustrated Lectures



Through Unknown Australia,
 
Outback in Australia,
 
Australian Aboriginal Adventures,
 
From Temperate Tasmania to Tropical Queensland,
 
Through the Wilds of Australia,
 etc., etc., dealing with various Overlanding journeys totalling over Five Thousand miles on horseback, and over Five Thousand miles in a one-horse sulky, through the lesser-known parts of Australia.  Captain Harris takes his audience right off the beaten track.  His slides are unique, and exceptionally interesting and instructive.




Applications should be addressed to Captain Harris, Director, American Australasian Bureau, Box 516, G.P.O., Chicago, Ill.



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Captain KILROY HARRIS D.S.O., M.C. (
TWO BARS
), F.R.G.S., F.R.C.I.


JAN 18 1923



AUTHOR OF 
Outback in Australia.
 
A Book of the Great War.
 
On War Work in America.




LATE KING'S MESSENGER; LATE OFFICIAL WAR LECTURER For the British and United States Governments






Prior to the War, Captain Harris had a Commission in the Australian Command of the Legion of Frontiersmen.  In December 1914, he was on his way from Australia to report to London Headquarters of the Frontiersmen when the authorities asked him to remain in San Francisco for some time to do special military work of a confidential nature for the British War Office.  Resuming his journey in May, 1915, he arrived in London too late to accompany the Frontiersmen to East Africa.  On his way across America and to England he was a despatch bearer for the British Embassy at Washington.




Captain Harris enlisted as a Trooper in King Edward's Horse (
King's Colonials
), but after serving for ten days, was given a Commission in the Drake Battalion of the Royal Naval Division (the military arm of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve).




Before going to France and Belgium he was on service in the Mediterranean.  He was wounded on four separate occasions (three times slightly wounded, remained at duty); and was once slightly gassed.  His last wound, a bullet in the head, rendered him temporarily unfit for further active service, and he was sent across to America again on a six months lecture tour under special arrangement between the British and United States Governments.




On his return to England Captain Harris was appointed King's Messenger—a very high honor—and in this capacity carried despatches all over Europe, usually crossing the English Channel by destroyer, and motoring through to the Peace Conference at Paris.  While acting as King's Messenger his car 
had an argument with a bit of French landscape,
 and Captain Harris sustained injuries which sent him to hospital for six weeks.  He visited the English and French naval bases, and was carrying despatches to Scapa Flow when the German Fleet was scuttled.




While awaiting Repatriation to Australia, Captain Harris was one of a small group of Colonial Officers in Imperial Forces selected by the Oversea Settlement Committee of the Colonial Office to advise in connection with emigration of Imperial ex-service men to the British Dominions.  He lectured in many of the large Military Hospitals.




At the time of his Election to the Royal Geographical Society in 1912, Captain Harris had the distinction of being the youngest Fellow of that Society.  He is also a Life Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute; a Member of the Millions Club of New South Wales; a Member of the San Francisco and London Branches of the Overseas Club; and a Vice-President of the British Service Association (Australia), which he founded in Sydney in 1920 to encourage Immigration of Imperial ex-service men.  Whilst in England in 1912-1913, doing journalistic work, Captain Harris was attached to the Victorian Government Immigration Office for some time.  He visited Belgium and Germany in connection with Emigration about the middle of 1913, and a few months later, when returning to Australia via South Africa, he acted as Government Intelligence Officer on the Immigration liner, 
Indrapura.




Captain Harris has travelled more than 5,000 miles on horseback, and more than 5,000 miles in a one-horse sulky through the Australian back-country.  His longest Overland Journeys included a ride of 800 miles on horseback from Sydney to Brisbane: a 1,700-mile cattle-droving trip through the far western parts of Queensland and New South Wales; a 2,400-mile drive in a one-horse sulky from Newcastle to Adelaide and back, and a journey of over 2,000 miles in a one-horse sulky from Newcastle right across New South Wales to Broken Hill and back.




Captain Harris, who acted as King's Messenger when returning to Australia, was decorated on four occasions for gallantry in action, being created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, and awarded the Military Cross with Two Bars.  The decorations were gazetted as follows: M. C., January 26th, 1917; First Bar, July 18th, 1917; Second Bar, January 18th, 1918; D. S. O., March 4th, 1918.  Captian Harris also received the Bronze Oak Leaf for 
Mention in Despatches,
 and the British General Service Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.




The Military Cross was awarded for services at Beaucourt-Sur-Ancre in November, 1916: 
For conspicuous gallantry in action.  He led a raid against an enemy machine gun with great gallantry, capturing the gun and turning it on the enemy.  Later, he led a small bombing party, and was instrumental in capturing one hundred and two prisoners.




The official account of the award of the First Bar to the M. C. (Gavrelle, near Arras), is as follows; 
For conspicuous gallantry during operations.  Owing to the enemy's wire being very thick, the situation during an advance became critical, and heavy casualties were occurring in his Company.  With great bravery he kept cheering his men on, and when through the wire he organized bombing parties to protect the flanks.  His conduct throughout was magnificent.




The Second Bar to the M. C. was for work at Passchendale (Belgium): 
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  His daring reconnaissance and thorough preparations contributed largely to the success of night operations, resulting in the capture of two enemy posts and three machine guns.  By his daring and initiative he was the means of establishing our line on a commanding position.




The D. S. O. was awarded for operations near Cambrai: 
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  When the enemy attacked under intense bombardment and captured his trench, he directed repeated bombing attacks until he had regained half the trench and established a block, which was hotly contested all day.  Towards evening he led a bombing attack along both sides of the trench, which regained the whole position and resulted in the capture of five enemy machine guns.  Throughout the day he led his Company with great courage and determination, under heavy fire, and set them a magnificent example.  It was entirely due to his efforts that the position was re-established.




(P.T.O.)






American Lecture Notices.



Daily Times
 (Editorial), Bayonne, New Jersey:


Lafayette Day.  The tributes paid by Governor Edge and Captain Harris of Australia were more than from the lips.  They came from the innermost recesses of the heart.  The thrilling story of Captain Harris will live long in the memory of those who heard him.  It made one feel that the task 'over there' must be done, and that there can be no peace until Kaiserdom is completely crushed.  It was sufficient to spur on those in this country to see to it that the task is completed * * *




Daily Review
 (Editorial), Bayonne, New Jersey:


Lafayette Day.  One of the most interesting patriotic meetings held in this city since war was declared.  Governor Edge's address fitted in perfectly with the brilliant oration of Captain Harris.  * * * Captain Harris' address more than thrilled the big audience.  * * * His was a personal one and as he told of incidents of battle scenes, many, many of the mothers who heard his words found their hearts throbbing both with pride and pain for the son overseas.




News
 Greensburg, Indiana:


Captain Harris held the undivided attention of his hearers, so interesting was his talk.  * * * Captain Harris is considered one of the best lecturers in the United States, and Greensburg is fortunate to have an opportunity to hear him.




“Ledger,”
 Columbus, Indiana.


Captain Harris is to speak at several Teachers' Institutes in this State.  Those who have heard him declare that he is one of the most interesting speakers on the platform today.  * * * A vivid picture.  * * * He talked for nearly an hour and a half, but still the large crowd of teachers was unsatisfied.  * * * Kept his audience thrilled.  * * *




Daily Times,
 Indianapolis, Indiana:


Captain Harris has been brought to Indiana for a month of speechmaking.  He is one of the most noted talkers the Speakers Bureau has brought to the State.  He will tell his story mainly to the school teachers' Institutes now being held.




Evening News,
 North Tonawanda, New York State:


The Rotary Club regard him as the best war speaker who has been secured to deliver an address before the members.




Daily Sentinel,
 Lewistown, Pennsylvania:


A rattling good patriotic speech.  * * * A great natural orator, heard by several thousand people.  * * * A red letter day.




Age,
 Las Vegas, Nevada:


The people of Las Vegas were brought to a clear realization of war.  Beginning about nine, Captain Harris held the audience of several hundred people at the Airdome spellbound until midnight.  * * * He left with his hearers a firmer determination to support the Government in its fight to preserve the liberties of the world.




Herald,
 Salt Lake City, Utah:


An enthusiastic and largely attended Mass meeting * * * stirring and vivid address * * * a realistic word picture * * * his talk is most interesting * * * the best that has been presented here * * * Captain Harris has been in great demand, and from various parts of Utah come requests for his assistance in the 'Drive' * * * drew a vivid picture.  * * * At the Commercial Club luncheon, Captain Harris spoke on economic conditions in England.  His talk was limited to ten minutes, and during that time he imparted a vast amount of information * * *




Daily Call and Post,
 San Francisco, California:


Orders have just been received from New York detailing Captain Harris (Australian) to the Allied War Exposition.  This information has caused a stir at headquarters.  His presence bespeaks the importance that the British Government attaches to the Exposition here * * *




Herald,
 Lexington, Kentucky:


Captain Harris has been in the mining district for a week.  Reports have come in to Headquarters showing marked results.  The County Chairmen (Red Cross) say that never before has any outside speaker so moved the miners, and they have received the British Officer with open arms and pocketbooks.  Before the actual War Fund Drive is launched, he has obtained more funds from the miners than has ever before been contributed in any war campaign.





English Book Reviews.



Sunday Times,
 London:


One of the most delightful travel books I have come across for a very long while.  A veritable encyclopaedia of information about all sorts of interesting Australian topics.  His surroundings were always changing, and his curiosity and zest for knowledge and adventure were equal to every change.  All the sights of Nature attract him, and he writes vivaciously of all the fauna.  Nor is it merely emigrants who can obtain tips from this volume; Australian-born readers will learn much.




United Empire
:


Few books on Australia are more likely to interest the reader than this entertaining and well-written account of Outback life in—so far as the Englishman or city-bred Australian is concerned—practically unknown portions of the island-continent.  Mr. Harris is to be congratulated not only on the journey, but also on the excellent narrative of his wanderings * * * Mr. Harris' book is a notable contribution to Australian literature.  It is well written, gives a vivid account of the country and people.




Standard
:


Books about Australia are legion, but those that describe Australia as it really is are painfully few in number.  It is with the greater pleasure therefore that 'Outback' is to be welcomed as a notable addition to the minority.  * * * The book is readable from the first page to the last.  Mr. Harris can tell a story with that directness and simplicity which make storytelling an art in itself.




The Publishers' Circular
:


A fascinating volume which displays the sprightliness and brightness of youth, combined with the sober judgment and knowledge of mature age.  * * * He describes everything with admirable clearness.  * * * We trust that the success of the first venture will prove so encouraging as to induce him to make other long Overlanding journeys, as he hopes to do.  He can write well, and his zeal and intelligence may tend materially to the opening up of many dark spots.




Market Mail,
 London:


A graphic and interesting account * * * described with remarkable tact * * * observed just the points which enabled him to give a close analysis of the character developed in the Lonely Lands, and the touches of nature and crude art.  * * * Scenes are brought before the eye with great skill.  Mr. Harris knows how to tell a good yarn, and his chapters bristle with quaint anecdote and characteristic touches which give a rare insight into the mental make-up of the inhabitants of Outback.  * * * Grips the reader's attention and holds it until the last page is reached.




No. 20 (10-22)