SERVICE PERSON RESEARCH

‘They Enlisted at My Age’

By: Ella Woodgate

SERVICE PERSON DETAILS

Other Facts:Before enlistment, he attended Cleveland St High School, and was a clerk. He also served in the Senior Cadets, New South Wales as a 2nd Lieutenant, 28th Battalion. John was given the nickname Jack. After John’s death, his father was sent John’s personal items (tooth brush, safety razor and hair brush) from his kit bag; however his father believed that they did not belong to John.

PHOTO:

Service Person’s Name John Auguste Emile Harris

Rank Lance Corporal

Service Number 2251

Regiment/Unit or Ship or Squadron

2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Army6th Reinforcements

Date of Birth October 1899

Place of Birth Waverley, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Family Details SingleFather: Alfred Thomas HarrisMother: Camille Alphonse Anna Harris

Age at Enlistment Claimed to be 18, but was really 15.

Place of Enlistment Liverpool, New South Wales

Date of Enlistment 2 June1915

Date and Place of Embarkation

16 June1915Sydney

Ship Embarked onHMAT Karoola A63

Location of Service Egypt, Gallipoli (Lone Pine)

Fate M.I.A. then was concluded that he was K.I.A.

Date of Death 8 August 1915

Place of Death Lone Pine, Gallipoli Peninsula, Dardanelles, Turkey

Age at Death 15 years 10 months (war records and John’s grave still say 18)

Cemetery of Memorial Name Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey

Grave or Memorial Number Special Memorial C. 41.

Honours and Awards 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Memorial Plaque and Scroll.

Australian War Memorial 2016,

PORTRAIT OF 2251 PRIVATE JOHN A.E. HARRIS, 2ND BATTALION, KILLED IN ACTION, 1915-08-08. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H06501/, accessed 28 January 2016.

SERVICE PERSON’S STORY/EULOGY:

An adventure, a chance to travel outside of his country and away from the boring life he knew, an introduction to manhood, an escape from his parents, a strong patriotic willingness to sacrifice himself for the country, or a way to provide for his family. Whatever the reason may be, John Auguste Emile Harris was driven to enlist for the war at only fifteen years of age. Devastatingly, John was killed while most others his age had their whole lives ahead of them, to become men, husbands and fathers.

Prior to his enlistment, John attended Cleveland Street High School, New South Wales, and also worked as a clerk. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 28th Battalion of Senior Cadets. In June 1915, with the consent of his father, John joined the Australian Imperial force (AIF) as a private in the 6th Reinforcements of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, lying that he was 18. He embarked for training at Egypt on 16 June, leaving his family, friends and life behind.

During his time at Egypt, John rose through the ranks, becoming a Lance Corporal. While training, he built strong friendships, such as Private Frederick Hamilton Clarke, and Lieutenant Everard Digges La Touche, who took care of John.

The 6th Reinforcements arrived at Gallipoli in the early hours of the morning on 6 August 1915. That day, the Anzac’s were planning an attack at Lone Pine, which was led by the 2nd Battalion reinforced with the new arrivals. The Battalion’s War Diary explains what happened on that horrific day.

Bombardment Preliminary to assault commenced. This will continue until 1730 when 2nd Battalion on right and 3rd Battalion in centre and 4th Battalion on right assault LONE PINE TRENCH. The three short whistler flashes and was to reinforce up along the line. Our men cleared and left in the new line instantly and attacked with vigour. The enemy artillery opened with shrapnel. Their machine guns also came into action at once and combined with the riffle fire from LONE PINE and exploded fire from the enemy trenches further south. The space initially between ours and the enemy trenches was heavily swept with fire. For the first four minutes little could be seen after our men gunned the enemy trenches for the clouds of dust from shell fire, but soon figures were faintly visible and were seen to be at the parados of the enemy’s front trench. Shortly afterwards they were seen to advance.

As the day commenced, the entries in the war diary became a brutal description of the conflict:

Men were mown down by rifle and machine gun fire. Many were wounded or hit as they were leaving, so other troops could not get out. But the men emerged again gamily. Attack continued. But as moon had now risen, they were nearly out of the recesses before the fire again opened out of the flanks and front. Several men got to the trench but were shot down. Action of all ranks as gallant and brave as could be desired.

That was John’s first and last battle, as he was reported missing in action on 8 August. Witnesses and friends of his wrote that John was last seen at 4.30pm on 6 August, and that before then, they had seen him every day. One informant also stated that there were many left dead on the field, and there was no chance John could have been taken prisoner. John was later declared Killed in Action on 8 August; however the evidence suggests that he died earlier.

On the afternoon of August 6th, at Lone Pine, Informant saw Harris lying just outside the Turkish trenches. He had apparently been severely wounded. Informant for some time was lying near Harris, and has no doubt as to his identity. Informant was himself carried back to the beach, and was there told that Harris had died of his wounds. Harris was short, dark, young and was called ‘Jack’.

Years later, John’s father, Alfred Thomas, wrote that his son was actually 15 and 10 months at the time of his death. It was too late for the text on his grave to be changed, so it remains age 18.

I am honoured to have this opportunity to commemorate John Harris, whose life was taken away from him too soon. At only 15 myself, I could never imagine being exposed to the horrors of war. John’s courage and mateship is inspiring, and he deserves the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Memorial Plaque and Scroll that he was awarded. Rest in peace John Auguste Emile Harris.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

AIF Project 2015, John Auguste Emile HARRIS https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=128352 (accessed 28 January 2016).

Australian War Memorial 2016, Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 2nd Infantry Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1007890.pdf (accessed 31 January 2016).

Australian War Memorial 2016, Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 2nd Infantry Brigade https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1008267.pdf (accessed 31 January 2016).

Australian War Memorial 2016, Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files, 1914-18 War, 2251 Lance Corporal John Auguste Emile Harris, 2nd Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1038950--1-.pdf (accessed 1 February 2016).

Australian War Memorial 2016, Battle of Lone Pine https://www.awm.gov.au/military-event/E71/ (accessed 30 January).

Australian War Memorial 2016, First World War Embarkation Rolls: John Auguste Emile Harris https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R2069919/, (accessed 28 January 2016).

Australian War Memorial 2016, PORTRAIT OF 2251 PRIVATE JOHN A.E. HARRIS, 2ND BATTALION, KILLED IN ACTION, 1915-08-08 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H06501/, (accessed 28 January 2016).

Australian War Memorial 2016, Roll of Honour: John Auguste Emile Harris https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1634585/, (accessed 28 January 2016).

Australian War Memorial 2016, 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U51442/ (accessed 30 January).

Daily Telegraph 1918, ‘AUSTRALIA’S ROLL OF HONOR’ in the Daily Telegraph 14 September, p. 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151720955 (accessed 29 January 2016).

Gallipoli and the ANZACs 2016, The Battle of Lone Pine http://www.gallipoli.gov.au/bravery-awards-at-gallipoli/lone-pine.php (accessed 30 January 2016).

Gemma Jones 2015, The Daily Telegraph, Boy Soldiers Paid Ultimate Price http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/boy-soldiers-paid-ultimate-price/news-story/2bbed074c3a9fd0b6237da3356e9c4ce, (accessed 30 January 2016).

J. Barnes 19 August 1916, Nurses and troops on board the hospital ship HMAT Karoola (A63) prior to departure. Retrieved from Australian War Memorial, 27 January 2016, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PB0494/

National Archives of Australia 2016, NAA: B2455, HARRIS J A E http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4764863, accessed 28 January 2016.

War Dead of the British Commonwealth Lone Pine Cemetery, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Ancestry 2016, Photograph of John Auguste Emile Harris’ Grave in Lone Pine, Gallipoli http://archives.ancestry.com/Discoveries/?emailId=2048706&language=en-US&ahsht=2016-01-20T02%3a56%3a43&ahsh=f1191fd11c2e4e28401bd53af257cd65&o_xid=59215&o_lid=59215&o_sch=Email+-+Programs, Retrieved 29 January 2016.

SOURCES

Casualty Form - Active Service

6.8.15 - Joined 2nd Battalion at the Gallipoli Peninsula

8.8.15 - Missing in Action at the Gallipoli Peninsula

8.8.15 - Killed in Action at the Gallipoli Peninsula, previously reported missing.

National Archives of Australia 2016, NAA: B2455, HARRIS J A E http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4764863, accessed 28 January, 2016.

National Archives of Australia 2016, NAA: B2455, HARRIS J A E http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4764863, accessed 28 January 2016.

Letter explaining that John was presumed to be dead after being missing and friends had not seen him since a charge on the 6th of August. It also mentions that Harris was very young, and that he was a friend of Lieutenant Everard Digges La Touche, who reportedly took Harris under his care.

National Archives of Australia 2016, NAA: B2455, HARRIS J A E http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4764863, accessed 28

January 2016.

AUSTRALIA'S ROLL OF HONOR. (1915, September 14). Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas.: 1883 - 1928), p. 6. Retrieved 26 January 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151720955

National Archives of Australia 2016, NAA: B2455, HARRIS J A E http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4764863, accessed 28 January 2016.

On the afternoon of August 6th, at Lone Pine, Informant saw Harris lying just outside the Turkish trenches. He had apparently been severely wounded. Informant for some time was lying near Harris, and has no doubt as to his identity. Informant was himself carried back to the beach, and was there told that Harris had died of his wounds.

Harris was short, dark, young and was called ‘Jack’.

Australian War Memorial 2016, Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files, 1914-18 War, 2251 Lance Corporal John Auguste Emile Harris, 2nd Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1038950--1-.pdf (accessed 1 February 2016).

Background

2nd Australian Infantry Battalion

The 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion was formed in Sydney, within two weeks of Australia declaring war, and was a part of the 1st Brigade along with the 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions. The battalion embarked two months later, and arrived in Egypt on 2nd December, 1914. After training there, the battalion was involved in the landing at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, on 25 April, 1915. The battalion was part of the second and third waves to come ashore. After heavy losses in the early weeks of the Gallipoli campaign, reinforcements arrived in August.

On 6 August, the battalion took part in the charge at Lone Pine, which lasted for four days. Their commander, Lieutenant Colonel R. Scobie, like many other officers and other ranking men, was killed during a Turkish counter-attack. The battalion served at Gallipoli until the Anzac’s were withdrawn in December, 1915.

The battalion then returned to Egypt, where they met with reinforcements and participated in more training. They then proceeded to France and the Western Front in March 1916. They took part in attacks and counter-attacks in the Somme (France) and Ypres in Belgium. The first major action the battalion was involved in was at Pozières in the Somme Valley, July 1916. After moving on to fight at Ypres, Flanders, they then endured an horrendous winter in the French trenches.

Early in 1917, the 2nd Battalion took part in operations advancing towards withdrawing German defences at the Hindenburg Line. In these events, Private T.J. Kenny earned the 2nd Victoria Cross in the battalion when he attacked several enemy machine gun positions with grenades. The rest of the year was spent fighting in terrible conditions at Ypres.

The battalion returned to the Somme, France, to stop the German Spring Offensive in 1918, and participated in the Allies own offensive on 8 August, east of Amines. German General Erich Ludendorff described the day

as "the black day of the German Army in this war”, because it was the greatest success in a single day on the Western Front for the Allied troops.

The battalion fought hard through September, until the armistice on 11 November. They then returned to Australia between 1918 and 1919, and were discharged. Overall, there were 1,240 men from the battalion who died, 211 honours and awards, and 578 recommendations for honours and awards, and 563 men on the Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing list. All men who served under the 2nd Infantry Battalion should be congratulated for their contribution to the war effort.

Australian War Memorial 2016, 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U51442/ (accessed

30 January)

Australian War Memorial 2016, Colour patch: 2 Infantry Battalion, AIF https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RELAWM13307.065 (accessed 30 January 2016)

Battle of Lone Pine

The Battle of Lone Pine was one of the most famous battles at Gallipoli that the Anzac troops were involved in. It was originally launched by Australian and New Zealand troops as a decoy from the Anzac efforts to advance from Chunuk Bair and Hill 971. Each Anzac wore a white armband or piece of cloth to distinguish them when they were injured or engaged in close combat with the enemy. The main Turkish trench was taken within the first 20 of the initial infantry attack and artillery bombardment, however the Turkish held firmly established positions, some with logs over the roofs of the trenches. This meant that on some occasions, the Anzac’s had to break through the roof to engage the Turkish defenders. The battle started on the afternoon of 6 August 1915, and continued for four days. As a result, there were over 2,000 casualties.

The men chaffed each other drily, after the manners of spectators waiting to see a football match. Some belated messenger hurried along the trench to find his platoon, and, in passing, recognised a friend. ‘Au revoir’, Bill’, he nodded, ‘meet you over there’. ‘So long, Tom’, was the answer; ‘see you again in half an hour’. [Charles Bean, The Story of Anzac, Vol II, Sydney, 1924, p.502]

‘The boys went right through these Turkish works, and had regular hand to hand fights every yard. To show you the nature of the fighting I may mention that in one corner we came across eight Turks and six Australians, all dead, who had evidently fought it out man to man to the last.’ [Birdwood’s report on Lone Pine, quoted in Harvey Broadbent, The Boys Who Came Home:

Recollections of Gallipoli, Sydney, 2000, p.92]

Information:

Australian War Memorial 2016, Battle of Lone Pine https://www.awm.gov.au/military-event/E71/ (accessed 30 January)

Gallipoli and the ANZACs 2016, The Battle of Lone Pine http://www.gallipoli.gov.au/bravery-awards-at-gallipoli/lone-pine.php (accessed 30 January)

Photograph:

C.E.W.Bean, 12 August 1915, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. Australian troops relax inside a captured Turkish trench at Lone Pine, Retrieved 30 January 2016, from Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/G01126/

Australian War Memorial 2016, Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 2nd Infantry Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1007890.pdf (accessed 27 January 2016)

6.8.1915

0530 Fine day. Casualties officers and O.Rs 3 wounded, officers 22, other ranks 560.

0730 Enemy shelling us heavily.

1000 Enemy shelling again.

1200 All ready for attack.

1630 Bombardment Preliminary to assault commenced. This will continue until 1730 when 2nd Battalion on right and 3rd Battalion in centre and 4th Battalion on right assault LONE PINE TRENCH. The 1st Battalion is in reserve. Battalion Headquarters will be to B4 tunnel until it moves, probably with the 3rd line or reserve company.

1730 The three short whistler flashes and was to reinforce up along the line. Our men cleared and left in the new line instantly and attacked with vigour. The enemy artillery opened with shrapnel. Their machine guns also came into action at once and combined with the riffle fire from LONE PINE and exploded fire from the enemy trenches further south. The space initially between ours and the enemy trenches was heavily swept with fire. For the first four minutes little could be seen after our men gunned the enemy trenches for the clouds of dust from shell fire, but soon figures were faintly visible and were seen to be at the parados of the enemy’s front trench. Shortly afterwards they were seen to advance. By this time the third wave (D Company), with 60 shovels and 40 pikes, had also reached the trench.

1743 Our men could be seen lining enemy parados. One company of the 2nd shell in reserve.

1900 Brigade advanced. The reserve company with battalion headquarters was launched at 1900 to reinforce. The enemy artillery and machine guns opened at once. Many men were hit but the remainder reached the trench in safety.

1915 All hands busy consolidating the parados. The two sandbags carved by every man proved very useful to enable us to build across the communication trenches which connected us with the trenches we captured. Some of these trenches need a lot of work to make them tenable as there are long stretches without any crevices and only heaped earth. All hands busy deepening trenches.

1925 Brigade advised the 2nd Battalion holds enemy line to hill on right.

2000 Brigade advised that we are in launch with 3rd Battalion on our left and that we have been reinforced by about 50 of the 1st Battalion. Again asked for also bombs.

2130 Our wounded lying all over the trenches, and are dampening movements. Efforts being made to evacuate them. Enemy’s dead everywhere and we can’t avoid walking on them as they are so thick. Star shell being fired by artillery at regular intervals.

Australian War Memorial 2016, Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 2nd Infantry Brigade https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1008267.pdf (accessed 27 January 2016)

7.8.1915

0035 Men were mown down by rifle and machine gun fire. Many were wounded or hit as they were leaving, so other troops could not get out. Division headquarters advised 6th Battalion Troops were to be withdrawn, reorganised and go again to take trenches.

0120 Assisted in reorganising in dark and narrow tunnels. Enemy still shelling. Difficult task.

0355 Reorganisation complete with General Bennat in command and 2 Majors assisting. Owing to two problems in the tunnels, passing of signal of assault took some time. But the men emerged again gamily. Attack continued. But as moos had now risen, they were nearly out of the recesses before the fire again opened out of the flanks and front. Several men got to the trench but were shot down. Action of all ranks as gallant and brave as could be desired.

Australian War Memorial 2016, Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 2nd Infantry Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1007890.pdf (accessed 27 January 2016)

Australian War Memorial 2016, Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries, 2nd Infantry Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1007890.pdf (accessed 27 January 2016)

War Dead of the British Commonwealth Lone Pine Cemetery, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Ancestry 2016, Photograph of John Auguste Emile Harris’ Grave in Lone Pine, Gallipoli http://archives.ancestry.com/Discoveries/?emailId=2048706&language=en-US&ahsht=2016-01-20T02%3a56%3a43&ahsh=f1191fd11c2e4e28401bd53af257cd65&o_xid=59215&o_lid=59215&o_sch=Email+-+Programs, Retrieved 29 January 2016.

Latin language on John’s grave translates to ‘As when a purple flower cut plow.’

HMAT Karoola (A63) - Ship John Auguste Emile Harris traveled on.

J. Barnes 19 August 1916, Nurses and troops on board the hospital ship HMAT Karoola (A63) prior to departure. Retrieved from Australian War Memorial, 27 January 2016, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PB0494/

National Archives of Australia 2016, NAA: B2455, HARRIS J A E http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4764863, accessed 28 January, 2016.