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GS/50392 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
Ernest Harrison was born in Sudbury around 1881, one of nine surviving children of George James and Ellen Harrison. His father was a groom/gardener and the family lived at 11 Newton Road, before moving to Cross Street.
Ernest married Harriet Jarvis in Kings Lynn in 1912, they were living in Kings Lynn when he enlisted to serve with the Royal Fusiliers. His battalion formed part of 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division.
On 17 February 1917 Ernest and his battalion saw action at Boom Ravine when the battalion’s task was to advance from Desire Trench to South Miraumont Trench crossing Grandcourt Trench and the deep sunken road called Boom Ravine. The night was dark and misty. The Germans had discovered the plan and the troops assembled ready for zero hour suffered heavy casualties from a heavy barrage. Those who survived gallantly leapt forward at zero hour; in the pouring rain and pitch dark they pressed ahead to reach Boom Ravine. However there had been a serious delay and the enemy were ready at South Miraumont Trench where the by now weakened force faced uncut wire and a heavily manned trench so they could only take refuse in muddy shell holes. A German counter attack forced the troops to retire. The event is seen as one of the most tragic in the battalion’s history: 39 killed, 173 wounded and 69 missing.
Ernest died aged 36 on 17 February 1917 and lies buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, France. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in October 2014.
His younger brother Frank lost his life eight months later serving with the Suffolk Regiment; he is also remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial.
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