Hugh Hamlyn Harris

Hugh Hamlyn Harris was born on 1 July 1893, in Adaminaby, New South Wales to William Hamlyn and Elspeth, nee Grant, Harris. He would have seven other siblings.

It is interesting to take a side step and look at the military history of Hugh’s paternal grandfather. Hamlyn Lavicount Harris was born in Ireland, the son of a relatively famous general from the Napoleonic wars. He became a soldier himself in India (where Hugh’s father, William, was born) with the East India Company and rose through the ranks to the rank of Major General in the Madras Native Infantry. He and his wife, Eliza Cobden (nee Reeves), had nine children before they retired to live in Bristol, Somerset, UK. Hamlyn applied to be a cadet in the Honourable East India Company in 1821 and joined the Madras Army. He became a Lieutenant in the 15th Regiment in 1832, Major in 1846, Lieutenant Colonel in 1857 and a Major General in 1861.

At the time of his enlistment at Sydney, New South Wales, on 19 August, 1914, Hugh was a single, 21-year-old stockman living at Meragle South near Tumbarumba, New South Wales. His medical examination has him standing 5 feet 10 inches tall (178 cm) and weighing 11 stone 7 pounds (73 kg). His complexion was described as fair, his eyes as blue, and his hair as light brown. Hugh gave his religious denomination as Church of England. He had a number of distinctive marks, including a scar on his right shin, a tattoo of a horse's head on his right forearm, an eagle and flag tattoo on his right inner arm and, lastly, a tattoo of three flags on his left arm.

Hugh was placed on strength with B Squadron of the 1st Light Horse and given the service number 265. He would embark on HMAT A16 Star of Victoria at Sydney on 20 October 1914. While on station in Egypt, Hugh would have undergone several training exercises to prepare him for warfare against the Turks. Due to the increasing casualties in the Dardanelles, it was decided to send the Light Horse Regiments as reinforcements, although without their horses.

On 9 May, the Regiment embarked on two transports, A3 Devanha and B15 Kingstonian, arriving off the west coast of Gallipoli three days later. Initially, they were bivouacked 500 yards south of Pope’s Hill, although it wasn’t long before they took over the trenches from the 13th Infantry. During their time in the Dardanelles, the Regiment was used for offensive operations only once, on the morning of 7 August, 1915, when they attacked the Turkish position known as the Chessboard. The result was 147 casualties from the 200 men who were involved in the charge. The image below shows the wounded of the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade and the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at a dressing station immediately after the attack on the Chessboard. For the remainder of their time, they played a defensive role.

Hugh’s time at Gallipoli came to an end when he was admitted to the 25th Casualty Clearing Station on Imbros suffering from diarrhoea. This was a common ailment at Gallipoli, mainly due to the poor diet, lack of fresh water and the constant problems with the decaying remains of soldiers who had not been buried properly. Large black flies would visit the dead only to land on the food that the soldiers were eating. Hugh was shipped to the hospital on the Island of Malta aboard the HMHS Westralia.

He eventually made it back to the ANZAC Advanced Base on the Island of Mudros. A curious entry in his Casualty Form - Active Service B.103 mentions that between the dates of 24 November and 30 December, his pay was stopped under AIF Order No. 38A/II. There is no explanation of what this order was or how it applied to Hugh.

On 10 January, 1916, Hugh arrived back at Alexandria on HMT Ananonia. Two days later, he was admitted to the DBI (Detention Barracks Isolation) Hospital at Abbassia and remained there until 24 January. He was finally taken on ration strength of the 1st Light Horse Regiment at Warden and promoted to temporary Lance Corporal.

Hugh spent most of February 1917 back in hospital suffering from influenza. On 23 February, he was sent to the School of Instruction at Zeitoun to undergo a course of instruction on the Hotchkiss gun. He rejoined his unit two weeks later and was promoted to vice Corporal. In late August, Hugh was sent to the ANZAC Rest Camp at Marakeb for a short stay.

In January of 1918, Hugh was back in several hospitals and rest camps. It wouldn’t be until late April that he was diagnosed as suffering from a nervous debility and was admitted to the 14th Australian General Hospital at Port Said. He was transferred to a rest camp on 10 June 1918, and remained there until 19 June, when he rejoined the 1st Light Horse Regiment at Moascar.

On 23 August 1918, he was promoted to temporary Sergeant but was once again admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital, where his rank was reverted to Corporal. On 21 September, he was transferred to ADMS and given 14 days' sick leave. He embarked on the Devon at Suez on 13 October, being granted 1914 leave. This was a special leave for those who had enlisted at the start of the war. Hugh would learn of the Armistice while at sea on his way home.

Hugh was discharged from the AIF on 23 January, 1919. For his service during the war, Hugh was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He married Helen Augusta McGregor on 20 June 1927 in Tumut, New South Wales. They had four children during their marriage. Once again, when Australia was at war in 1939, Hugh answered the call to enlist. He enlisted in the Citizens Military Forces at Randwick, Sydney. He was given the service number N79837.

Hugh passed away on 19 December, 1958, in Argalong, New South Wales, at the age of 65.