From 1912-1913, Captain Kilroy Harris was a journalist in England, and was affiliated with the Australian government's immigration office. Before WWI, Harris was commissioned to the Australian Command of the Legion of Frontiersmen. He served in the Mediterranean, and later held the post of King's Messenger, carrying communications throughout Europe. He was decorated four times for bravery, and was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, was awarded the Military Cross with Two Bars, the Brtitish General Service Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.
In 1920, Harris founded the British Service Association in Sydney to facilitate the immigration of ex-servicemen to Australia. He explored many areas of the Australian outback, travelling more than 5,000 miles on horseback and the same distance again in a one-horse sulky.
With his wife Leila Harris (q.v.) he wrote several books about Australia for international audiences, most of which were for children.