Military Summary (from Jacquie Hartwright)

Sent by Jacquie Hartwright March 2015. Notes compiled by her mother.

Thomas George Henry HARRIS - RAMC Service Number - 1879

Thomas Harris was born in 1887, the son of John and Elizabeth Harris who lived in Church Road, Rainbow Hill, Worcester. Thomas was a 21 year old Iron Moulder at the Nevile (sic)  Engineering Works (will have to look this up) when he attested on 21 August 1908. He joined the RAMC at Aldershot on the 25 August and was posted to Netley (Royal Victoria Hospital) in 9 January 19109. Brief information about this famous hospital.

Thomas was appointed to the Nursing Section on 19 April 1909. In 1910 whilst playing football on the Netley ground, he collided with another player, somersaulted and fell down, dislocating and fracturing his wrist. As it was impossible to rectify the problem even under deep anaesthetic, “the displaced bones were excised through a median dorsal incision”. Thomas spent 67 days in hospital receiving treatment including massage. It was reported that the injury was “not likely to affect his efficiency as a soldier”. Thomas was transferred to the Army Reserve on 20 August 1911 as a 2nd Class Orderly and gave his intended place of residence as 33 Church Road, Rainbow Hill, Worcester (his parents address). In 1912 Thomas married Ada Mary Ann Matty at St John in Bedwardine church. Her family were living in Skinner Street, (off Bromyard Road) St John’s at the time of the 1911 census.

Thomas was mobilised at Cosham in Hampshire on 6 August 1914, less than a month after the birth of his son George Thomas Harris in Rotherham on 12 July. Thomas was posted to No 6 Clearing Hospital on 15 September 1914 which was at Merville and seven days later to No 1 CC (Casualty Clearing Station) where he was to remain for over four years.  Further information. Details of conditions of work described by nurses.

Thomas was advanced the 3rd rate of Corps pay on 15 May on 1915 and in August was granted a week’s leave with ration allowance from the No 1 CCS at Chocques. He was admitted as a patient to the same CCS on August 28 with burns to his face and hands and was discharged on 6 September. He was back as a patient in February 1916 when suffering from influenza. Thomas qualified as an Operating Room attendant on 5 July 1917. He was granted a fortnights leave from 17 December and then returned to No 1 CCS where in August 1918.

Thomas’ army file show that in 1918 his UK  address was Laslett's Almshouses, Union Street, Worcester (incorrectly stated in the file as in Ware), and this may be the address he went to in  December 1918 when  he was granted 14 days leave. He was due to return to France on 12 January 1919, but whilst he was in the UK he was struck off the BEF preparatory to demobilisation. He was transferred to section B Reserve on demobilisation on 17 February 1919 and finally discharged on 20 August 1920. His home address by then was 31 Garden Street, Masboro, Rotherham. Thomas hoped to be a postman, and his file stated that he had another qualification for civilian life - as a trained sick attendant. He held one Good Conduct badge and a 3rd Class Certificate of Education, and was classed as having a very good military character.