Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Date Information
21/05/2020 02329
01/07/2018 Mr Frederick Porter Harris, only son of Mr J Porter Harris, solicitor, Stewartstown, has obtained a commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and is posted to the camp at Salisbury Plain early in January. The young officer was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution, and entered Trinity College Dublin. He had a very successful university career, being invariably highly placed at the different examinations. At the final in surgery last month, he was first in the College, and in medicine he was second, though he did not confine his studies to the professional school but also took the Arts course, graduating as a B.A. some weeks ago. He also took his full share in the social life of the College, and was a member of Monkstown Football Club and the University Golf Club. Having completed his professional course (as medical students wishing to volunteer were advised to do), he at once proceeded to London and offered his services to the War Office.
01/07/2018
01/07/2018 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 2nd January 1915: F P Harris (cousin of Eric Wallace Harris)
15/10/2017 From the Tyrone Courier dated 15th November 1917:
15/10/2017
15/10/2017 Lieutenant Eric Wallace Harris, Royal Garrison Artillery, died of wounds on 4th November, was the only son of Mr W Wallace Harris, solicitor, 4 Dame Street, Dublin, and Mrs Harris of Chelmsford, Avoca Avenue, Blackrock and entered Trinity College, Dublin in June 1914, and the Medical School the following term. He had captained his school at both cricket and hockey, and was a conspicuous forward in Trinity College team. Joining the University Officer Training Corps, he obtained his commission in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 10th November 1915, and after some months training at Spike Island, was transferred to Fort Campden, County Cork to which station he was afterwards appointed as O.C. He left for France on Christmas Day 1916, and served at the Somme, as Arras (where he was slightly wounded in the arm) and in Flanders, where he was mortally wounded on 3rd November 1917. In April last he had been recommended for distinction for special and conspicuous bravery on three occasions. A few weeks before his death he was offered the captaincy, but preferred to remain with his old battery.
15/10/2017 Eric gained the rank of Lieutenant in December 1915 and was posted to Queenstown (Spike Island) for training.
15/10/2017 Eric Harris was transferred to Fort Campden, County Cork to which station he was afterwards appointed as O.C.
15/10/2017 Lieutenant Eric Wallace Harris left for France on Christmas Day 1916.
15/10/2017 Lieutenant Harris served at the Somme, as Arras (where he was slightly wounded in the arm) and in Flanders.
15/10/2017 In April 1917 Lieutenant Eric Wallace Harris was recommended for distinction for special and conspicuous bravery on three occasions.
15/10/2017 Only a few weeks before his death he was offered his captaincy, but Lieutenant Harris preferred to remain with his old battery.
13/10/2017 Captain F P Harris, M.C., Royal Army Medical Corps, attached R.F.A., son of Mr and Mrs Porter Harris, Curglasson, Stewartstown, has been awarded the Military Cross ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty under very heavy shell fire, attending to wounded and having them safely removed to cover.’ He was previously mentioned in despatches for gallant and distinguished services. This young officer has seen very heavy fighting. He served through the Gallipoli campaign from the first landing on 2th April 1915 at Cape Helles, until the final evacuation. He afterwards served in Egypt, and has been serving in France and Flanders since March 1916. He was gassed and wounded in May, and he was severely wounded on 16th August last, having his left arm fractured with shrapnel, and his left foot and right thigh also injured. He was admitted to St John’s Hospital, Etaples, and shortly afterwards removed to Newcastle-on-Tyne, where we are glad to say he is progressing most satisfactorily. Captain Harris was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and at Trinity College, Dublin.
13/10/2017
13/10/2017 From the Tyrone Courier dated 20th September 1917: Stewartstown Officer Wins the M.C. (Captain F P Harris - cousin of Eric Wallace Harris)
13/10/2017 Eric was educated at Avoca School, Blackrock. He had captained his school at both cricket and hockey.
25/03/2017 Captain Frederick Harris, M.B., R.A.M.C., only son of Mr Porter Harris, Curglasson, Stewartstown - For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in working for three hours in the open under an intense hostile bombardment, during which time he succeeded in getting many of the wounded under cover, and undoubtedly saved many lives. His coolness and fearless devotion were beyond all praise.
25/03/2017
25/03/2017 From the Belfast Newsletter dated 11th January 1918: Captain F P Harris (cousin of Eric Wallace Harris)
12/03/2017 Lieutenant Eric Wallace Harris, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died of wounds on 4th November, aged 20 years, was the only son of Mr W Harris and Mrs Harris, Chelmsford, Blackrock. He was a nephew of Dr Porter Harris, Stewartstown, county Tyrone, and had held a commission in the artillery since 18th November 1915.
12/03/2017
12/03/2017 From the Belfast Newsletter dated 8th November 1917: Roll of Honour
08/03/2017 The Military Cross has been awarded to Captain F P Harris, Royal Army Medical Corps, only son of Mr and Mrs Porter Harris, Curglasson, Stewartstown.
08/03/2017
08/03/2017 From the Belfast Newsletter dated 19th September 1917: Captain F P Harris (cousin of Eric Wallace Harris)
28/02/2017 Captain F P Harris, M.C., Royal Army Medical Corps, son of Mr J Porter Harris, solicitor, Stewartstown, was admitted to hospital in Etaples on 16th August suffering from ‘gunshot wounds, left arm and fracture of right thigh; severe.’ This young officer was gassed and wounded on 3rd May, but was able to resume active work in ten days. He was through the Gallipoli campaign from the landing to the evacuation. And afterwards served in Egypt before going to France, and he has twice been mentioned in despatches for gallant and distinguished conduct.
28/02/2017 From the Belfast Newsletter dated 20th August 1917: Captain F P Harris (cousin of Eric Wallace Harris)
28/02/2017
29/01/2017 The 1901 census lists Eric Wallace as age 3, living with the family at house 19 in Church Hill, Naul Road, Glasnevin, Dublin. William Wallace Harris was a solicitor and Land Agent. Eric’s mother was English.
29/01/2017 Eric was a member of Stillorgan Golf Club.
29/01/2017 Eric Harris a keen sportsman and played for Leinster in the inter- provincial hockey team and also played for Trinity First, and captained the college team during the year they won the cup.
29/01/2017 Eric Harris entered Trinity College, Dublin in June 1914 was a second year student of medical school at Trinity College, Dublin. He was reading for the position of surgeon probationer in the Royal Navy.
29/01/2017 The 1911 census lists Eric Wallace as age 13, living with the family at in Avoca Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin.
29/01/2017 Family: William Wallace Harris, Gertrude May Harris, Eric Wallace Harris (born about 1898), Doris Gertrude Harris (born about 1900).
29/01/2017 Eric was born in Dublin about 1897. He had one sister.
29/01/2017 Eric Wallace Harris was the only son of William Wallace Harris and Gertrude May Harris.
29/01/2017 Captain F P Harris, R.A.M.C., attached to the Royal Field Artillery, was wounded on 3rd May, and is also suffering from gas poisoning. This officer served through the Dardanelles campaign from the day of the historic landing till the evacuation. He afterwards served in Egypt, and for the last fourteen months has been in France. He has already been twice mentioned in despatches for gallant and distinguished conduct. He is the only son of Mr and Mrs Porter Harris, Curglasson, Stewartstown, whose elder daughter, Mrs Ella Harris, is a V.A.D. worker in Lady Constance Butler’s Hospital, London.
29/01/2017 From the Belfast Newsletter dated 15th May 1917: Captain F P Harris (cousin of Eric Wallace Harris)
29/01/2017 He became a member of Dublin University Officer Training Corps, and obtained first place in the preliminary military examination.
29/01/2017
29/01/2017 Medal Card of Lieutenant Eric Wallace Harris
29/01/2017 Wallace Harris was a solicitor with an office at 43 Dame Street, Dublin.
29/01/2017
29/01/2017 Eric Harris gained a commission in Royal Garrison Artillery on 10th November 1914.
29/01/2017
29/01/2017
29/01/2017
29/01/2017 The CWGC record Lieutenant Eric Wallace Harris as the only son of William Wallace Harris and Gertrude May Harris, of ‘Chelmsford’, Avoca Avenue, Blackrock, County Dublin.
29/01/2017 Although listed on local memorials, it seems doubtful Lieutenant Eric Wallace Harris ever lived in the Stewartstown area.
29/01/2017 Lieutenant Eric Wallace Harris was interred at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery with full military honours.
29/01/2017 Lieutenant Eric Wallace Harris died of his wounds the following day on 4th November 1917. He was twenty years old.
29/01/2017 Lieutenant Harris was attached to 213th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery when he was seriously wounded on 3rd November 1917.
13/11/2016 Mr Eric Wallace Harris, only son of Mr Wallace Harris, solicitor, Dublin, and nephew of Dr and Mr Porter Harris, Stewartstown, and Dr Harris, Frome, England, has obtained a commission in the Royal Garrison Artillery, and has been posted to Queenstown for training. He was a second year student of medical school at Trinity College, Dublin and was reading for the position of surgeon probationer in the Royal Navy. He was a member of Dublin University Officer Training Corps, and obtained first place in the preliminary military examination. Second Lieutenant Harris is a good sportsman and played for Leinster in the inter provincial hockey match and also for Trinity First, and captained the college team during the year they won the cup. He is also a member of Stillorgan Golf Club.
13/11/2016
13/11/2016 From the Belfast Newsletter dated 3rd December 1915:
30/12/2015 Mr Eric Wallace Harris, only son of Mr. Wallace Harris, solicitor, Dublin, and nephew of Dr and Mr Porter Harris, Stewartstown, and Dr Harris, Frome, England, has obtained a commission in the Royal Garrison Artillery, and is posted to Queenstown for training.
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 From the Tyrone Courier dated 9th December 1915:
30/12/2015 Eric Wallace Harris is commemorated on Stewartstown Cenotaph and Donaghendry Church of Ireland, Stewartstown.
30/12/2015 'Death cannot sever love, and remembrance lasts for ever.'
30/12/2015 After the war when the cemeteries were being put in place his family asked for the following inscription to be placed on his headstone:
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