Faces from the Past Friday - Harry Surman Connor

Today it is the turn of the fourth cousin, Henry (Harry) Surman Connor (my second cousin 1x removed).


Henry Surman Connor was born on 31 January 1898 in Lismore, New South Wales. Harry was the third son of Dr Francis (Frank) Gillies Connor and Jane Surman and one of four boys and three girls. Harry's father trained in Edinburgh and arrived back in Australia in 1886 as a qualified doctor.  In 1895 he received his Degree of a Doctor of Medicine and the Degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery in the University of Edinburgh.


In Harry's early years the family lived in Coraki, Lismore, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads - all in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Frank Connor retired in 1903 and the family moved to Willoughby in Sydney.

Harry enlisted in Sydney on the 14th September 1914. His age was 21 years and 9 months. Harry's description is as follows: Height 5'6"; Weight 9 stone 8lbs; Chest measurement 35"; Complexion Fair; Eyes Grey; Hair Brown; Religion Presbyterian. He was noted as vaccinated and that he had a tattoo on one arm. His occupation on enlistment was farmer of Oatha, Parkes, New South Wales. Harry's regimental number was 487 and he was posted to the 13th Battalion. The 13th Battalion AIF was raised from late September 1914, six weeks after the outbreak of the First World War. The battalion was recruited in New South Wales, and with the 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions formed the 4th Brigade, commanded by Colonel John Monash.(AWM)

Faces from the past Friday - the four cousins

While researching the cousins that lost their life in WWI, I thought a lot about what it would have been like for these four young Australian men on the other side of the world. 

Who were the four young men? Well they were:

Harold George McKerihan (husband of my 1st cousin 1x removed)
Guy Sydney Connor (my 2nd cousin 1x removed)
Henry Surman (Harry) Connor (my 2nd cousin 1x removed)
David Ernest McCann (my 1st cousin 3x removed)

That doesn't tell me much. It's true that I did not know them, they died long before I was born however I feel a need to write something of them.