Jack Harrison

By the time the 1891 Census was taken the Harrisons were living in the High Street in Bozeat. Arthur is recorded as boot finisher. The family of Arthur and Martha Harrison consisted of their children: William James (born 1881), Edward (born 1884) Harriet Mary A. (born 1886) and Jack (born 1888). Between 1891-1903 Arthur and Martha Harrison had further children: Susan Rebecca (born 1891), Frederick (born 1894), Edith (1896), Sarah Emily (born 1898), Dorothy (born 1900) and Arthur (born 1903).

In the 1901 Census the family were still resident at Bozeat. Arthur is recorded as a shoe finisher, William (aged 19) and Edward (aged 14) are shoemakers, Harriet (aged 14) is a boot closer upper and Jack (aged 12) has no occupation listed, indicating that he was still at school. The school leaving age had been raised to 13 in 1899 and remained so until 1918 when it was raised to 14.

The Harrison family moved to Rushden in 1909. This is verified by the fact that Jack's sister, Sarah Emily is recorded in the South End School Admission Register. She was admitted to the school on the 4th October 1909, being transferred from Bozeat School. The family at this time were living at 30 Crabb Street.

By 1910 the family moved to 12 West Street. On the 2nd May 1910, Jack's youngest brother, Arthur (born 1903), is recorded as entering the South End School and this was given as his address.

When the 1911 census was taken on the 2nd April, the Harrison family were still at 12 West Street. Arthur and Martha Harrison, were aged 52 and 48 years respectively. It records that they had been married for 31 years and had 11 children, 2 of whom had died. Arthur was a labourer with the Rushden Urban District Council whilst Martha was a housekeeper (probably meaning she kept home for the family). They still had 5 of their children at home. Jack (aged 22) who was a building trade labourer, Susan (aged 20) and Edith (aged 15) both working in a boot factory lift making (a type of insole), Emily (aged 12) and Arthur (aged 7) and still at school. There was also a granddaughter residing with them; she was called Edna Harrison aged 1. It is thought that Edna was the daughter of Susan Harrison who later married Frederick Jarvis in 1915.

The Harrison family still lived at 12 West Street in 1914 when they received news that Edward Harrison had been killed in action on the 23rd October 1914. His name is recorded on Rushden War Memorial. Edward had seen service with The Worcestershire Regiment and had previously taken part in the Boer War (1899-1902). By 1914 the Harrison's eldest child William was living in Australia.

Jack Harrison, the fourth known child of Arthur and Martha Harrison; it is stated that when Jack left school he became a farm worker. He started boxing when he was 15 years old in 1903, when he fought his first fight at Wollaston at a boxing booth. In the early days of his career, Jack toured local feasts taking on anyone in the boxing ring.

Official records state that Jack started boxing in 1907 when he won three competitions and knocked out three men on the same day. In 1908 Jack fought Pte. Dan Voyles (Irish Guards) at the London City Athenaeum (better known as The Thieves Kitchen) in Throgmorton Street and drew with him, fighting four rounds with a broken jaw. In 1909 he sustained a broken arm in a fight when he beat Pte. Dan Voyles in the Household Brigade Heavyweight competition semi-final.

Jack left the Grenadier Guards in 1909 having had 100 fights. He returned to Rushden to live, where he obtained a job in the road repairs gang for the Rushden Urban District Council. He also became a member of the Rushden Athletic Club in Newton Road where he carried on boxing.

It was around this time that another boxer, Jim Driscoll (1880-1925) discovered Jack Harrison, who Jim described as a mere novice. Under the tutelage of Jim Driscoll, Jack soon developed into a champion. Jim Driscoll, who was also known as 'Peerless Jim' was a Welsh featherweight boxer who learnt his trade in the boxing ring and used it to fight his way out of poverty. He went on to win the British Featherweight Championship and the coveted Lonsdale Belt in 1910. He was all set to push Jack to the limits of his boxing career.

On the 20th May 1912, with 'Peerless Jim' training, Jack Harrison won the British Middleweight Boxing Championship and the prestigious Lonsdale Belt. He fought against Private Pat McEnroy (Irish Guards) at the National Sporting Club, Covent Garden in a twenty round contest.

Jack returned to England, and on the 17th March 1913 fought Harry Lewis, an American, at the NSC, Covent Garden. Jack didn't defend his British Middleweight Boxing Champion title in 1913.

The First World War saw Jack volunteer to re-join the army, on the 14th May 1915, as a Private in the 23rd (Service) Battalion The Royal Fusiliers (1st Sportsman's) where he boxed for his regiment. He was later transferred to the 106th Labour Corps where he served as a Corporal.

In the summer of 1918 Jack married widow Mary Jane Fathers who already had a son, called Frederick Fathers (1909-1987). Jack and Mary had twin sons, John Frost (Jack) Harrison (1919-1996) and Herbert Henry (Bert) Harrison (1919-1993), and a daughter Joyce (1925-2002). The twins joined the Royal Navy in the Second World War and both were boxers, although they were not as successful as their father.

Jack Harrison retired from boxing in 1924 having competed in 36 contests. He won 21, lost 12, drew 1 and others 2. He returned to work as a labourer for the Rushden Urban District Council. Jack lived at 136 High Street South, Rushden before moving to 67 Highfield Road, Rushden. He would often visit local schools dressed in his white boxing outfit to help with PE and boxing. Jack also ran a boxing club based at the Rushden Windmill Club in Glassbrook Road where he had his own chair and beer mug. He was well liked and respected by the local community and even when he was 80 years of age would walk 20 miles a day.