CRICH PARISH

Crich, Fritchley, Whatstandwell, Bullbridge, Crich Carr, Coddington, Wheatcroft, Wakebridge

Ernest Harrison (1885–1948)

Private

Photo Courtesy Susan Arrowsmith

Ernest in 1946

Biography
Ernest Harrison was born at Crich in 1885 and worked for the Butterley Company prior to the war. When he enlisted in the army in November 1914, he was living in Sheffield. He had relocated to Liverpool by 1917. He married twice, to sisters. He married Jane Garnett in 1917. Jane died the following year as the result of a domestic accident, aged 38. Later that year, Ernest married Jane's younger sister, Ellen Garnett. Ernest and Ellen had two sons: Albert Mansel Harrison (1918) and Sydney Harrison (1920). Ellen passed away in 1926, aged 45. Ernest subsequently had a son named Eric with his partner, Lilian Langston. He remained in Liverpool until his death in 1948..

Medal Roll Index
He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star Medals also the Silver War Badge
Date of entry 24/8/15

Field Ambulance Record
E Harrison aged 32
Private 10323
Years Service: 1 years 6 months
Month with field forces: 10 months
Ailment: Whitlow thumb (right)
Date of admission: 25/05/1916
Date transferred to other hospital: 07/06/1916
Notes written in Observation Column: 5th Divisional Rest Station
Religion: C of E
Regiment: East Surrey Regiment
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Other Unit info: 3rd Company

Silver War Badge
242734; Pte Harrison Ernest; E. Surreys; 268876; enlisted 14/11/14; discharged 7/11/17 of wounds aged 22; served abroad

Army Record
He enlisted 24 November 1914, address 35 Southwell Road, Grimsthorpe, Sheffield; aged 29 years and 3 months; a labourer. He was 5ft 10¼ with a scar inside his right knee and right ankle. Next of kin Catherine Harrison of Rose Lane, Crich (mother).
05.12.14 posted RGA
09.06.15 transferred 310 Battery E Surrey Regiment
06.11.17 discharged, no longer physically fit under Para 392
Gun shot wound chin and chest
Address on discharge from Shelford Camp Hospital was 17 Belvedere Rd, Liverpool. Moved to 50 Strathcone Road, Wavertree, Liverpool.

Newspaper Report

Derbyshire Advertiser, 20th February 1915
FOUR SONS WITH THE COLOURS
Crich figures amongst the list of Rural Parishes that has sent four sons from one family to serve with the colours. This proud distinction is claimed by Mr and Mrs Harrison of Roes Lane Crich who will have four sons in his Majesty's forces. Gunner Herbert Harrison is with the 4th Coy. Royal Field Artillery, at Swanage, Pte William Harrison another brother having been at the front since Sept. serving with the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, the third son Gunner Ernest Harrison is station at Sheerness, being attached to the 22nd Coy Ravelin Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, whilst the youngest son Pte. Arthur Harrison is serving with the 5th Bttn. Sherwood Foresters, at present stationed at Hoddesdon, Herts.

His brother William was wounded in 1915; reported in the Derbyshire Courier. Ernest was also mentioned in the report:

Derbyshire Courier, 31 August 1915
Crich Lance Corporal Wounded
Lance Corporal William Harrison of Crich, attached to the 2nd Notts and Derbyshire Regiment, in writing home during the past few days tell of his getting wounded in action.
He is now at the Heaton Mersey Auxiliary Hospital (formerly a Wesleyan School) and he writes: "I am feeling very sore after my experiences in the last big battle. The sights of the war get worse, and to see the dead and dying is awful. The battle started about 2.45 on Monday, and the noise of hundreds of guns was absolutely deafening. Our order to advance was smartly obeyed, but we had great difficulty in getting along as every yard or so we went some of our chaps were knocked down. Thousands of shells were dropping round us, but it did not matter we kept going on and gained for our commander what he wanted. Then I was struck by pieces of shell, one in the arm two in the thigh and again in the abdomen. But I’m feeling a bit better now, and we are being very well looked after in hospital. Just as we were going into action I saw Sam Britton, Jack Clark, Walter Mellors and others who shouted to me and wished us look."
Lance Corporal Harrison came across with 200 other wounded soldiers in the –, and was sent to Ducie Avenue Hospital. Manchester, afterwards being moved to Heaton Mersey. His brother Private E Harrison of the East Surrey Light Infantry, was expected to start for the Dardanelles on Tuesday.

Derbyshire Courier, 5 February 1916
CRICH CASUALTIES
Mr and Mrs William Harrison, of Roes Lane, Crich, have received news that their son, Private Ernest Harrison, of the East Surreys, is ill in hospital at Le Havre, France. No further details are yet to hand. Private E. Harrison was for a period in the Royal Garrison Artillery, but was later transferred to the East Surreys. His brother William of the 1st Sherwood's, is still in hospital at Stretford, Manchester, suffering from severe shrapnel wounds sustained in France some months ago. Recently he underwent an operation at the Manchester Infirmary, when he had some pieces of shrapnel removed.
Another Crich soldier who is ill in hospital is Sgt William Curzon, news having been received recently by his mother to this effect. Sgt Curzon who is in the 5th Sherwood Forester's, stationed somewhere in the south of France, states in his letter that he has been bitten in the eye by a venomous insect whilst he was asleep.

Derbyshire Courier, 26 August 1916
WOUNDED
Pte E. Harrison, Crich

Ernest Harrison's brothers Herbert Harrison, Arthur Harrison, Sydney Harrison and William Harrison are also on the Roll of Honour.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Crich

Forename	Surname	Relationship	Age	Occupation	Where born
William	Harrison	Head	44	Wire drawer	Winster
Catherine	Harrison	wife	43		Crich
Fred	Harrison	son	16	Coal miner	Crich
Ernest	Harrison	son	15	Coal miner	Crich
William	Harrison	son	13	Coal miner	Crich
Annie	Harrison	daughter	12		Crich
Hida M	Harrison	daughter	7		Crich
Sydney	Harrison	son	3		Crich
Arthur	Harrison	son	1		Crich
Sarah	Holmes	sister in law (single)	39	Hosiery factory hand	Crich

RG13 piece 3231 folio 29 page 4

1911: Near Church, Crich

Forename	Surname	Relationship	Age	Occupation	Where born
William	Harrison	Head	54	Wire drawer	Winster
Catherine	Harrison	wife	52	Housewife	Crich
Fred	Harrison	son	26	Collier hewer	Crich
Ernest	Harrison	son	25	Labourer cinder bank Butterley co	Crich
William	Harrison	son	24	Unemployed	Crich
Annie	Harrison	daughter	22	Spinner rug Lea Mills	Crich
Hida Rose	Harrison	daughter	17	Spinner rug Lea Mills	Crich
Sydney	Harrison	son	13	Apprentice grocer	Crich
Arthur	Harrison	son	11	Schoolboy	Crich
Sarah	Holmes	lodger	39	Ironer Lea Mills	Crich

RG14PN20985 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED14 SN103

1939 Register: Broad Lane, Liverpool
Ernest Harrison b. 30 August 1885 Postman
Albert M Harrison b. 6 December 1918 student schoolmaster (this was crossed through)
Lilian Langston (Wood) b. 19 November 1895

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