A VERY UNUSUAL OFFICER CASUALTY PAIR & PLAQUE
(& Bath Road Cycling Medal 1903)
Medals To:
2/Lt G.E.HARRIS 3rd & 6th West Kent's.
Seriously Wounded 7/4/18 but survived until 25/2/22...Plaque issued 24/3/22, TWO YEARS after the official cut-off date.
(Previously served as Private DM/2 154568 in the A.S.C. and commissioned from the ranks 30th October 1917.)

[BIOGRAPHY]
RAILWAY WORKERS AT CLAPHAM STATION 1900
(George is probably in this picture)

GEORGE EDWIN HARRIS was born in Westminster, London in 1876 and at the time of his enlistment was employed as a railway clerk, probably at nearby Clapham Junction Station and was living at 70 Riggindale Road, Streatham SW. (the address still exists). George was a keen pre-war sports cyclist and was a member of The Bath Road Club. The club, which is still in full operation is one of the oldest cycling clubs in the world having been founded on 7th November 1886. In 1903 at the age of 27 he won the club's silver medal for the 12hour time trial at 154 miles. He is mentioned several times in the club's Bath Road News publication. It seems that he 'disappeared' in 1914 (clearly having joined the army c,October 1914). Then being a man of 39 he would clearly have been carefully scrutinised before enlistment but being a very fit cyclist he clearly passed initial muster into the Army Service Corps.

At his slightly advanced age he will have been initially employed in the UK and did not arrive in France until April 1916 when everybody and his dog was required in some capacity in the run up to "The Big Push" on the Somme. Again, now being a fit man of 41 who had obviously proved his worth, he is next seen being commissioned as 2/Lt into the 6th West Kent Regt on 30th October 1917. On 18th March 1918 the unit is seen travelling by motor lorry from Busnes to Albert. This was leading up to what is known as the German Spring Offensive.

On 7th April 1918 he was in the trenches to the East of BOUZINCOURT. The battalion war diary for that day ( Battle of Bapaume) records that the unit was experiencing light rear area shelling in the morning, but that in the afternoon their front line position was shelled with the following losses." 2 other ranks killed, 6 other ranks wounded and 2nd Lieut G.E. HARRIS WOUNDED" . He was badly hit in the back and arms by shell shrapnel (causing a haemothorax) with an evacuation to England on 11th April to the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester. From there he was transferred to West Norwood Hospital on 31st May 1918.

He was released from the army on 11th June 1919 having not had his commission gazetted until September 1921. As he is seen claiming his own medals on 1st November 1921 this is a very rare instance of a man with a plaque actually seeing his own awards !

Sadly he was taken suddenly ill in early 1922 and he died at Beclands Nursing Home ( now the St Mary's care home ) at 3 Tooting Bec Gardens of a pulmonary embolism on 25th February 1922.

Interestingly and totally outside the official latest date for plaque claims of 30th April 1920 his mother is seen being sent George's plaque & scroll on 24th MARCH 1922 !




......This is THE LATEST successful plaque claim we can ever remember seeing and is TWO YEARS after the official cut-off date for claims.

Clearly, (and sadly) George was also one of those men who have dropped through the official cracks as he's also just not listed anywhere under any heading on the Commonwealth War Graves website.

We intend to put this situation right in due course!

As from today, George is no longer a forgotten hero.

SOLD
(Maybe a current member of The Bath Road Cycling Club would like to add this excellent group to their historical collection or museum....call us on 01342-870926.)