Local Heroes WW1

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Last Updated: Sunday, 24 May 2015 15:50

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(Pte) Gustave Albert Harris

Private Gustave Albert Harris 1373, a Labourer from Exeter, South Australia, prior to enlistment 6 January 1915, he embarked with the 12th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement from Adelaide, South Australia,on board HMAT A50 Itonus on 15 February 1915.

Honours

Gustave Albert Harris was certainly entitled to wear one ‘Wounded Stripe’ on the left forearm sleeve of his tunic. When he was wounded, the entry in his service record noted “2nd Occasion”, so he may well have been awarded two stripes.  From 336,931 Australians who embarked for overseas service (excluding the RAN), there were 155,133 ‘woundings’ (including gassing and shell-shock). There were 5,583 Australian soldiers wounded three times, 807 four times, 105 five times and 10 six times. One soldier is recorded as having been wounded seven times.

‘Wounded Stripe’ Gustave Albert Harris twice wounded in action at Gallipoli.

He was later awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal which were sent to him by Base Records Melbourne in about 1920.

The 1914-15 Star rewarded operational service within a theatre of war between the commencement of hostilities on 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. Almost 2.3 million Stars were awarded throughout the Commonwealth, of which 82,000 were awarded to Australians serving in an Australian unit.

The British War Medal 1914-1920 was awarded to members of British and Imperial forces for service between the outbreak of hostilities on 5 August 1914 and the Armistice on 11 November 1918, although eligibility was extended to include service in various theatres up to 1920. There were 338,000 medals in silver awarded to Australians.

The Victory Medal 1914-1919 was awarded to members of British and Imperial forces for operational service only, between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, although eligibility was extended to include service in various theatres during 1919. There were 336,000 medals in silver awarded to Australians.

Gustave Albert Harris was also entitled to receive the ‘Discharged Returned Soldier Badge’, which was instituted in 1916 for members of the AIF who had returned to Australia from active service overseas and been discharged. Some 267,300 badges were issued: it was only for wear with civilian dress, to allow veterans to show that they had served.

The Semaphore War Memorial was dedicated in 1925 to honour all of those from the district who fought in the war, such as Private Gustave Albert Harris.

Local commemoration

The Semaphore War Memorial on the Esplanade was dedicated in 1925 to honour all of those from the district who fought in the war. A temporary ‘Memorial Arch’ of wood and iron was first erected at the entrance to the Semaphore Jetty bearing the banner title, ‘For King & Empire’. On 27 April 1924, four foundation stones for the new memorial were laid at the approach to the jetty – one on behalf of the citizens of Port Adelaide district, one for the RSSILA, one on behalf of the parents of the fallen men, and one on behalf of the widows and orphans.

Private Gustave Albert Harris was most likely among the several thousand people who attended the unveiling of the Semaphore War Memorial on 24 May 1925.

The following year, a granite obelisk was erected on the foundation stones, with an electric ‘turret type’ clock and topped by a marble Angel of Peace with wings outspread. The local newspaper noted, “all the names of those who enlisted from the district or who made the supreme sacrifice cannot be placed on the monument” so it instead bears a simple commemorative plaque.

On 27 April 1924, four foundation stones for the Semaphore War Memorial were laid at the approach to the jetty – including this stone laid by Colonel Charles Philip Butler DSO (ex-43rd Battalion AIF) on behalf of the returned sailors and soldiers such as Private Gustave Albert Harris.

Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL

For the 2015 commemoration of the Anzac Centenary, the Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL has created a virtual Honour Board listing the names of over 2,000 local men who volunteered to serve in World War 1. Among them are counted Gustave Albert Harris, a Labourer and a twice-wounded veteran of service in Gallipoli.