Ernest Frederick Harris

Ernest Frederick Harris was born in 1888 in Corryong, Victoria, to James Harris and Ester Annie, nee Attree.

On 13th March 1915, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 27-year-old farmer from Corryong, Victoria. He was allocated Regimental Number 507 and placed in B Company of the 22nd Battalion. Ernest gave his next of kin as his mother, Ester Harris. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A38 Ulysses at Melbourne, Victoria, on 10th May 1915.

he 22nd Battalion arrived in Egypt, where they underwent further training. In September 1915, they were deployed to Gallipoli.

In March 1916, the battalion embarked for France and the Western Front. On 6th May, Ernest was admitted to hospital suffering from mumps. He would remain hospitalised until 16th June. On 23rd June, Ernest was in the firing line at Bos Grenier, a little village south of Armentières, France. He received bomb wounds in his right upper arm. This would keep him out of action for the next six months. In doing so, he would not participate in the hell of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, where the 22nd Battalion suffered 43% casualties.

On 11th May 1917, he was transferred to the 6th Machine Gun Company. Three months later, he was back in hospital. He was appointed Driver on 25th May 1918. On 10th August, he was given two weeks' UK leave. Unfortunately, when he arrived back on the 23rd, he was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital back in Bulford, England, suffering from a venereal disease. He would spend a total of 53 days in hospital before being discharged.

On 5th April 1919, he returned to Australia aboard HMT Warwickshire, with the rank of Private. He was discharged on 17th August 1919, being awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service during the war.

Ernest Frederick married Barbara Greenhill in 1920. The couple remained in Corryong. They had one child, a daughter. In early December 1928, Ernest was operated on at Albury Hospital for appendicitis. Unfortunately, complications set in, and he passed away on the 29th December 1928. He was buried in Corryong Cemetery.