Harris, Claude

Leading Stoker Claude Harris - Royal Australian Navy

Claude Harris was born in Fremantle WA on the 8th November 1896 to Frank and Fanny Harris. He was one of several siblings; Victoria (1887), Walter (1889), Arthur (1891), Alexa (1892), Hubert (1894), Melva (1898), Edward (1903), Alice (1908) and Rosamund (1912). (The family pictured to the right-Claude is in the Navy uniform and Hubert who was away on army service when the photo was taken was superimposed into it at a later date)

Claude grew up in Fremantle with the family living in 32 Francisco Street South Fremantle (now called 10 Francisco) and Hubert was educated in Fremantle. 

During his early years Claude also served in the Navy Cadets. He developed a love of the ocean which led to him enlisting into the Royal Australian Navy. On the 14th November 1914 Claude offered his services and was accepted as fit.

The medical examiner recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 5 inches tall;

Hair - Light Brown;

Eyes - Hazel;

Complexion - Fresh;

Distinctive Marks - scar on left shin and tattoo on shoulder.

Upon his successful enlistment, Claude was sent to Victoria to complete his training. He was sent into the main Navy camp at HMAS Cerberus and was assigned to train as a stoker. He was given the Rank of Stoker II and was trained here until the 16th June 1915. 

Claude was then assigned to the ship HMAS Encounter. According to the Australian War Memorial, HMAS Encounter;

Following the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Encounter was part of the force which occupied German New Guinea. In the course of these operations she captured the steamer Zambezi on 12 August and, on 14 September, bombarded Toma Ridge to support the Australian Military and Naval Expeditionary Force. She covered the landing at Madang on 24 December. In October, Encounter patrolled the Fiji-Samoa area, capturing the German schooner Elfrede. After a refit, she continued patrol duties in the Pacific, landing troops to protect the cable station on Fanning Island in July 1915. After grounding on a coral reef at Johnson Island, Encounter had to put-in at Hong Kong for repairs. From January 1916, Encounter patrolled East Indies waters, returning to Australia the next month. She remained in Australian waters for the rest of the war. During this period she attended to the stricken Cumberland, which had struck a mine off Gabo Island on 6 July 1917, and searched the wreck of the raider Seeadler at Mopelia Island in September 1917.

On the 14th November 1915 Claude was promoted to the rank of Stoker and he served on the Encounter until the 31st December 1917. He then had a short period at HMAS Cerberus before being sent to England. Claude was then based at the Royal Australian Navy Depot in London from the 2nd February to 11th April 1918.

Claude was then assigned to HMAS Melbourne. According to the Australian War Memorial;

In September 1916 Sydney and Melbourne were transferred to the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron for duties with the Grand Fleet in the North Sea. In company with HMS Southampton and Dublin, they undertook patrol, escort and screening duties. In November 1917, Melbourne was fitted with an aircraft launching platform and a Sopwith Ships Pup fighter. On 1 June 1918, both Melbourne and Sydney launched their aircraft to engage two German reconnaissance aircraft. Melbourne's fighter lost its target in the clouds. Melbourne was present at the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918. She returned to Australia in April 1919.

Claude was on HMAS Melbourne when the German fleet surrendered in November 1918. Claude was on the HMAS Melbourne until the 5th August 1919. He was then transferred to HMAS Brisbane. While Claude was on this ship they conducted patrol activities around Australian and up to Singapore and through the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 

Claude served on the HMAS Brisbane until the 22nd November 1921. He was then released from his service in the Royal Australian Navy but remained on the Reserve list.

In 1921 in Sydney Claude married Ernestine Ellis Clarke and they had a son called Terrence (1922) and a daughter Shirley (1926).

They resided at Victoria Street Cottesloe Beach (Mosman Park) and Claude was working as a bricklayer. The family then moved to Leederville in the 1930's.

On the 17th May 1938 Claude was called back up for service with the Royal Australian Navy. From 1938 to 1940 he was based at HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle, helping to train new recruits.

On the 16th December 1940 he was then posted to HMAS Cerberus in Victoria. On the 11th February he was transferred to HMAS Lonsdale, another Navy base in Port Melbourne.

While he was based here, Claude was appointed to the Auxiliary Minesweeper HMAS Paterson. From May to November 1941, HMAS Paterson was based around the Victorian Coast, but then moved up to NSW.

Claude continued to serve with HMAS Paterson but was now nominally based at HMAS Rushcutter in Sydney. On the 11th February 1942 HMAS Paterson moved further up the coast towards Newcastle and Claude was now nominally based at HMAS Maitland, the Navy base at Newcastle. 

On the 13th April 1942 Claude was sent to HMAS Penguin, a Navy base in Sydney, where he undertook a further period of instruction.

On the 24th September 1942 he was then posted to HMAS Bungaree, this ship was a Minelayer. Claude served on this ship till the 30th September 1943. Claude then returned to HMAS Penguin and in 1944 had another period of service at HMAS Leeuwin in East Fremantle.

It appears that in April 1945 Claude was diagnosed with shoulder issues as a result of his service and he was discharged from the Royal Australian Navy. He was then granted a war pension.

During the war his son Terrence who was in the RAAF was killed in action on the 11th September 1942 in Germany

Upon his discharge Claude was living at Bay View Terrace Mosman Park.

Claude Harris died in Perth on the 2nd April 1959 aged 62. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Church of Christ MON GG 0018