Walking stick : Lieutenant L A Harris, 28 Battalion, AIF

Walking stick made of cane with a curved handle and small worn metal collar pinned to the shaft near the handle. One of the two securing pins for the collar is missing. A worn protective metal ferrule (end cap) is on the foot of the walking cane.

Lawrie (also spelt Laurie) Arthur Harris enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 18 February 1915 and served with 27 Battalion AIF. After serving at Gallipoli for a few months he was evacuated in December 1915. In March 1916 he embarked for Europe. In October 1916 he was sent to Sandhurst Military College in the United Kingdom for Officer training. Upon graduation he was promoted to second lieutenant and posted to 28 Battalion AIF where he saw action on the Western Front. On 3 May 1917 he was wounded at the Hindenburg Line, east of Bullecourt, but remained on duty. Although he was wounded early, he led two bombing parties and he later carried on his back a badly wounded officer when they were leaving the line. He was awarded the Military Cross in July 1917 for his actions at the Hindenburg Line. He was wounded again in October 1917 with a gunshot wound to his left leg and was admitted to hospital. He returned to Australia on 9 January 1919.