Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edgar Claude Harris was born July 1890 in Riverton, South Australia. Harris grew up in the town of Norwood, South Australia. Harris was 6 foot and 173lbs. He had blue eyes and brown hair with a fair complexion. He had a father named John Harris who lived on 36 George Street. His father George was his next of kin. He was not married. His occupation before the war was a railway porter. His religious belief was called methodist which is historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity.

At age 24 and 6-months, Harris enlisted into the Australian Army. He enlisted in Morphettville on the 22nd of January 1915. On the 20th of April 1915, he embarked on HMAT Hororata, Adelaide. On the 28 Jul 1915 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

Between April 1915 and January 1916, was the Battle of Gallipoli. The Australian 16th Infantry Battalion was one of the main players in this engagement.

Following the initial landings in April, the Australian Imperial Force's 16th Infantry Battalion arrived at Gallipoli on August 26, 1915. Reinforcing the now-depleted Australian forces was the battalion's principal goal, and its members were South Australian soldiers. In addition to fierce Turkish counterattacks and artillery bombardments, the battalion had to deal with the unpleasant realities of trench warfare and difficult living circumstances. The unit showed incredible bravery and tenacity in the face of adversity during the war. They participated in several noteworthy battles, such as the fights at German Officers' Trench and Lone Pine. Eventually, the Australian Imperial Force as a whole, including the 16th Infantry Battalion, withdrew from Gallipoli in December 1915.

The 5th Reinforcements arrived at the Battle of Gallipoli in addition to the 16th Infantry Battalion. To replenish the Australian forces' losses in Gallipoli, a detachment of recently recruited soldiers from Australia arrived as the 5th Reinforcements. A component of this was Edgar Harris. To keep up the manpower required to continue the campaign, these reinforcements were crucial. In Gallipoli, the 5th Reinforcements showed incredible bravery and tenacity despite their lack of training and experience. They actively engaged in several conflicts, including Chunuk Bair and The Nek, where they encountered the same difficulties and perils as their predecessors. The arrival of these reinforcements significantly bolstered the Australian forces, providing much-needed reinforcements to continue the fight.

During the war, on the 29 of August 1915, Harris was wounded on top of his left knee by a bullet. He was pulled out of war and sent to a nearby hospital where the bullet was the extracted but the injury was severe and he was hospitalised for several months. He was sent back to Australia 3rd January 1916. Finally, on the 31 May 1916 Harris was discharged.