Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

“Blood, Sweat and Fears”, ISBN: 978-0-64692-750-3, Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia who served in WW1

Additional Biography

Birth

Ernest John Keith Harbison was born on the 2nd September 1898 to Dr William Henry L.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., and L.M., Edin. (1891) and Nellie Adelaide (nee Jordan) at Gladstone, SA. He was one on five children – Mabel Mary (1897), Ernest John Keith (1898), Alan Thomas (1902), Jean Elsie (1904 and William Arthur (1907).

Schooling

Ernest’s early schooling was at Wallaroo on Yorke Peninsula (where his father had a medical practice). In 1912 Ernest passed his primary Examinations in seven subjects and in 1913 he was Dux of the Wallaroo Mines District High School and passed his Junior Examinations in English, History, Latin, Arithmetic, Algebra and geometry.

Ernest’s final three years at school were completed at Prince Alfred’s College where he passed Senior Public Examinations in 1914 and 1915 and his Higher Public Examinations in December 1916.

For PAC he played Intercollegiate football in 1915 & 1916, Amateur League Football in 1916, Intercollegiate Cricket and SACA B Grade Cricket in 1916. In the 1916 PAC Sports he was second to Stanford Howard in the Senior High Jump.

University

Ernest studied medicine at Adelaide University from 1917-1924. He graduated MS BS in November 1924. His brothers also graduated from Adelaide university, Alan (MB BS 1927) and William (BE 1938).

University Sport

Football

Ernest played his first game for the Blacks in a patriotic match against the colleges in 1918. He then played in the 1919 & 1920 A Grade teams and represented the University at the 1919 and 1920 Intervarsity matches. He was awarded a Blue for Football in 1919.

Cricket

Ernest played cricket for the Blacks from 1921-1924. He represented the University in Intervarsity matches in 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924. He was awarded a Blue for Cricket in 1924.

Lacrosse

Ernest played Lacrosse for the Blacks in 1923 & 1924 (winning Premierships in A grade in both years) and represented the University at Intervarsity Lacrosse in both years. He was awarded a Blue for Lacrosse in1924. His brothers Alan Thomas (MB BS 1927) and William Arthur (BE 1938) gained their Lacrosse Blues in 1924 and 1930 respectively.

Athletics

Ernest competed in the University Sports for at least the period 1921-1924. He won the Pole Vault in 1921. The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) described the event as follows: “One of the most delightful events was the pole vault, which was won by E. J. Harbison, one of the most graceful and artistic vaulters ever seen. His method is perfect, and he had no difficulty in winning by several inches with an 8 ft. 11 in. vault, which the athlete could have improved on considerably had he cared to go on.” In 1922 & 1923 he was Joint secretary of the Sports. He may have won the Pole Vault in 1922 although some papers gave the win to his brother Alan. In 1923, Ernest won the Pole Vault, his younger brother, Alan, coming third in the event. In 1924 he won the Field Games Cup and is pictured below winning the Pole Vault. He represented the University Team at the SA Amateur Athletics in 1921 winning the Football Kicking and coming Second in the Pole Vault; and in 1922 winning the Pole Vault. He represented SA in the Australasian Championships in December 1921 coming third in the Pole Vault. Ernest represented the University at the Intervarsity Sports in 1923.

World War I

Ernest enlisted on 11th September 1918 but was discharged just over a month later as hostilities had ceased.

Between the Wars

On the 1st July 1925 Ernest married Violet Mary Richards, the daughter of Albert Henry Richards at St John’s Church, Adelaide. Shortly after his marriage Ernest was appointed as Health Officer at Terowie in the mid north of SA. Ernest and Violet’s son John Henry was born on the 10th May 1926 at Wallaroo, followed by a second son Peter Alan on 4th January 1929 at Terowie. While practicing in Terowie, Ernest was actively involved in the community. He was an Official at the Terowie Railway Sports and Picnic, played cricket for ‘The Terries’ in the Golden Valley Cricket Association (Captain in 1928), President of the Terowie Golf Club and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1930.

In late 1930 the family moved from Terowie to Jamestown. Ernest’s activities in Jamestown included played golf, tennis and electric light lawn bowls, he was also on the Jamestown School Council and president of the Swimming Club.

Life for the Harbison family would change dramatically with the advent of hostilities in Europe in 1939.

World War II Service

Ernest was appointed an honorary captain in the AAMC Reserve of Officers in November 1939. In December 1939 he attended the wedding of his brother Bill’s wedding. In March 1940 both Ernest (SN - SX10937) and his brother Alan (SN - SX10304) were in camp.

Ernest’s WWII records were not available digitally at the time this story was written, but we know that he was playing cricket in Egypt in 1941. He served for two years in the Middle East then in New Guinea. On his return to Australia Ernest was based in military hospitals in Queensland. In late 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Major. Tragically on the 5th of March 1945, aged 46, Ernest died of illness and is buried in Brisbane.

WWII Details are now available from NAA Service Record at
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6389722

Family Tradition

Both of Ernest and Violet’s sons attended Adelaide University, John Henry Harbison graduated MB BS, 1949 he gained a Double Blue (Athletics Blue 1946, Lacrosse Blue 1948) and Peter Alan MB BS 1953 who represented the University at Lacrosse and gained an Athletics Blue in 1949.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.