Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Harold was born on the 22nd July 1917 and grew up in North Croydon, to the west of Adelaide. He particularly enjoyed his sport, playing in the winning 1935 Grand final for Hindmarsh Church of Christ football team against Cowandilla. In the summer months he was then an avid tennis player. He and Robert Carvosso from Glenelg, both served with the 27th Battalion militia for two years, whilst also working as a paint specialist. With the outbreak of WWII, both young men decided to enlist at a similar time. Just prior to his 23rd birthday, Harold (Harry) enlisted on the 18th June ’40 and 20 year old Bob, a storeman, enlisted soon after, on the 5th July, 1940.
Both were allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion with Harry becoming SX7454 and Bob SX7888. Strangely, their lives continued to run in parallel. The two spent their early army days in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before heading to Woodside for their preliminary training. Following pre-embarkation leave the 2/48th Battalion then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940. Harry was appointed to the role of Acting Sergeant, prior to disembarking on the 17th December. Soon after his arrival he was then officially confirmed with the rank of Sergeant. The young men then completed a few months training in Cyrenaica facing dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment when in Tobruk.
Their battalion had barely arrived in the Middle East when in May ‘41 Harry sustained an horrific gunshot wound to his head, resulting in him being evacuated to hospital. He was fortunate to survive, but lost the sight in one eye. During the same battle, Bob was also wounded in his left shoulder and it also later transpired that, like Harry, he lost an eye. The injuries to both young men occurred in the fierce fighting for Hill 209 which also claimed the lives of seven others.
John Glenn in his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described conditions that day at Dimra: “At 3:50am on 1st May the men of the 2/48th stood-to to await the outcome of the battle which had raged all through the night. In thick mist, darkness, and bitter cold they snatched a quick breakfast of bully beef and hard biscuits.” In an attempt to take Hill 209 in the heavy dust storm marked by overhead enemy aircraft targeting their carrying vehicles, ‘D Company moved out steadily with two platoons forward- 18 Platoon under Lieutenant Larkins on the right and 17 Platoon with Sergeant Tonkin in command on the left.’ ‘The company then moved well forward under control, and came under small arms fire, but continued until they came under very heavy machine-gun fire from the direction of the Water Point and Post S4.’ The remainder of that day was chaotic, information scant, the men weary and under heavy fire and a raging sandstorm.’
The 22nd May ’41 edition of the Chronicle listed those from the 2/48th Battalion who were wounded with Harry. They included Died of Wounds.— Pte. Robert T. Christie, SX8273, Angaston (previously reported wounded in action). Wounded in Action.— Pte. Lancelot W. Braidwood. SX7652, Adelaide; Pte. Douglas D. Cameron, SX8847, Curramulka; A/Cpl. Wallace M. Clegg, SX6947, Joslin; Pte. John W. P. Digan, SX9092, Adelaide; Pte. Harold E. Harris, SX7454, North Croydon; Pte. Blake H. Mclnnes, SX7877, Lancaster; Pte. Alfred W. Morris, SX7798 Norwood; and Pte. Milford R. Uzzell, SX7478, Stepney.
Bob’s injury had been reported in the Advertiser the previous day.
More detail was added by the News which reported that ‘Formerly a member of the 27th Battalion (militia). Sgt. H. E. Harris. of North Croydon, has been wounded in action with the A.I.F. Sgt. Harris sailed with an infantry unit in November. He played football with the Hindmarsh Church of Christ team and was a keen tennis player.’ The Mail also added that ‘Sgt. H. E. Harris, who has been reported wounded in action, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Harris, of St. Lawrence avenue, Croydon. He is 23. Before enlisting in the A.I.F. he served two years with the 27th Battalion (militia). Sgt. Harris left Australia in November.’
Extensive hospitalisation followed, with Harry inevitably receiving the medical classification that he was ‘Permanently unfit for Service’ in June.
By the end of August, 41 Harry and Bob were two of a number of injured South Australian men who returned by sea. Many told stories of their compatriots, vowing that the Germans “Will never take Tobruk." This epitomises the sentiments of soldiers who had returned from the Libyan campaign. These men said that the morale of the South Australians, and of the other defenders was splendidly high, and enemy pamphlets’ persuasively worded, calling on them to surrender were laughed to scorn. Life was hard in Tobruk, they said, but vicious dive-bombing, deadly sniping and stiffened attacks on the outer perimeter were being withstood and beaten off time and again.’
Private Ray Clements SX8231, in Harry’s 2/48th Battalion, was also wounded in May with a gunshot wound and shrapnel in his left arm, foot and back. He had been hospitalised for four months in a military hospital near Suez. Throughout that time, he recounted how they were continuously bombed several times a week. Some of the wards had been hit but remarkably the whole hospital was not blown to bits. He agreed with other soldiers that dive-bombing was the most terrifying experience of all. On the ships at Suez, and along the vital parts of the canal, it was necessary to fly balloon barrages as had been done in London.
Harry had several months sick and extended leave before being discharged on the 2nd of October ’41, returning to his home in North Croydon.
With hostilities over, ‘good news’ stories emerged to highlight the camaraderie and the strong bonds between those who fought together. The News in January ‘46 carried an article about the close bonds forged during war. ‘The Inseparables. Few friendships are more sincere than those formed on active service, but Bob Carvosso and Harold Harris have more in common than most war-time friends. They:
Joined up the same day in 1940:
Were allotted to the same company in the 2/48 Battalion, A.I.F.;
Sailed overseas in the same ship;
Went into action together at Tobruk;
Were wounded the same night;
Each lost an eye-Bob his left and Harold his right;
Were sent to the same base hospital;
Returned to Australia in the Same ship;
Were weeks together in the same hospital in Australia; and
Were discharged on the same day.
By the time they got to Tobruk they were known as "the Inseparables," and they still see a lot of each other after work. Bob is captain of the Glenelg R.S.L. cricket team and works for a wholesale tobacconist's firm. Harold is a Customs official.’
Aged 73, Harold died on the 21st August 1990 at Dernancourt and now rests in the Returned Services Section of Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Plot J7.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.