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When Hugh Hamlyn Harris was born on 1 July, 1893, in Adaminaby, New South Wales, his father, William Hamlyn (1851 to 1905), was 41 and his mother, Elspeth, nee Grant (1863 to ?), was 30. Hugh had seven other siblings: Mary (1886 to ?), John (1890 to ?), Felicia Geordina Hamlyn (1895 to 1969), Harriet (1897 to ?), Emily (1902 to ?), Elise (1904 to ?) and William Hamlyn (1906 to ).

At this stage, 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 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 Honorable 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 the 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 foot 10 inches tall (178 cm) and weighing 11 stone 7 pounds (73 kg). His complexion was given as fair, eyes blue and hair 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 horses 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 the 20 October, 1914. While on station in Egypt, Hugh would have gone through a number of training exercises in order 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 the 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 only used for offensive activities once and that was on the morning of the 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 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 to the 30 December his pay was stopped under AIF Order No. 38A/II. There is no explanation as to what this order was and how it applied to Hugh.

On the 10 January, 1916, Hugh arrived back at Alexandria on HMT Ananonia. Two days later he was admitted the DBI (Detention Barracks Isolation) Hospital at Abbassia and remained there until the 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 the 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.

January of 1918 saw Hugh back in a number of 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 the 10 June, 1918, and remained there until the 19 June when he rejoined the 1st Light Horse Regiment at Moascar.

On the 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 the 21 September he was transferred to ADMS and given 14 days sick leave. He embarked on the Devon at Suez on the 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 (1905 to 1945) on 20 June, 1927 in Tumut, New South Wales. They had four children during their marriage; Natalie (1929 to 2016), John Anthony (1938 to 2003), Eric and Sheila Helen (1939 to 2004).

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.

Extract from "Light Horsemen of the Upper Murray", Year 5 and 6 Project, Corryong College.