Letter from R.D. Chalmers

This letter to Tom Harridge, Ern's brother in Kerang, gave the clearest details to date.

The author and his brother Jim were from Kerang and had embarked with Ern with the 12th Reinforcements, 5th Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT Ceramic on 23 November 1915.

Hurdcote Camp 12.10.17

Dear Mr. Harridge

Writing from France. My brother tells you tells me that you have cabled him when poor Ern was reported missing, asking for particulars and any further news.

He suggested that I should write to you because Ern and I have been in the same Platoon all along. While Jim has been in the transport section for 5 months, I think he cabled but there was No More News but there would be a Battalion Inquiry.

It grieves me to have to write that I am afraid the Inquiry will make no difference & that Ern has gone to the bright Home above where there is no war. I was only with the battalion 2 days after that battle and we were on the move all that time. But since reports are sent in from all the dressing stations and wick and I as well as others were enquiring for Ern without hearing anything about him after a certain time, I am very much afraid he was killed on the morning of September 20th. The last time I saw him was it about 4 o'clock that morning when we formed up in sections in no man's land. Ern was acting as Platoon Runner and I as section commander in the darkness. He crept up to me and pointed out a stick with an envelope on it which he had put up so that I would know just where the section on my right was. This was just part of his duty saying being to keep up communication between platoon HQ and sections.

You may be thinking there is a possibility of him being taken prisoner, but I do not think there is the slightest, because our Company was in Support & did not get in to touch with any Germans till they had surrendered.

It seems almost brutal too, as it were, take away any hopes you people may still entertain, but I feel that, hard as it is to write, & harder for you to read, it is best that you should know just how things are.

You might be thinking Mr. Harridge, that the least we could have done, was to write immediately we knew that Ernie was missing, but there have been so many mistakes made, relatives being told that soldiers were killed, while they were alive & well, that we cannot be too careful.

We all feel very deeply for you people, especially for your Mother and Father, and are glad to know that you can look forward to a reunion in Heaven, some have not that comfort you know, it must be awfully hard on them.

Away from all home ties and being constantly with all sorts of men, it requires no little strength of Character to "Come out from among them and be separate". From the day I first met Ern in Bendigo Camp, till that September morning, he was just the same earnest Christian Gentleman, and many a time we have taken the Sacrament together, sometimes in a Y.M.C.A. hut, but more often out in the open, when the remainder of the Church Parade had been dismissed.

The last time we met thus was on Sunday, September 16th in the corner of a little paddock in which our tents were pitched.

London

14.12.17

Since writing above, I have come to London on furlough & have just come from a performance of the Messiah at Westminster Abbey.

While there my thoughts often turned to you people, particularly while the solo "I know that my Redeemer liveth" was being rendered.

My heart goes out to you all at this trying time & I pray that you will be able to look to Him who do it all things well, for help & comfort in this sad trial. With kind regards and deeper sympathy, I am Yours sincerely R D Chalmers

The family back home were glad to have these details, although it seemed to destroy the little hope they had. They kept it back from his mother for a while, but in writing to Lillie she wrote that it was lovely to get a letter like it but it destroyed the little hope she had.

we can only make up our minds that our Dear Boy has gone but we know that he was quite ready & that is such a Comfort.

After reading Bob Chalmers letter that night every time I closed my eyes I could see him creeping up to Bob & pointing to the stick & I could see it all so plainly, the stick with the envelope on it & my Dear Little Boy. I never slept till near morning.

The letter was copied several times to circulate.

Red Cross investigations

The Red Cross did a marvellous job of tracking down witnesses. Here are four of the statements.

I knew Harridge well: he was about 22, of medium height, slim build and fair. I had known him for at least 18 months. It was at Messines second stunt where he was killed. I did not see him but Pte.Gale, A.Co. told me that he saw Harridge lying dead on the field.

Reference: Cpl.McIntosh. 900. A.Co. L.G. School Etaples. 28.2.16.

Havre. 17th. March 1919. Harridge, E. E. 3851. 5th. Australians. September 20/1917.

He was in A. Coy. came from Melbourne and was single. I was with him at the time when a shell burst near us at Paschendaele, Polygon on the morning of the 20th. September. I was wounded and buried for some time. Nothing more was seen of him.

Inf:-Pte. A. J. Findlay, 268, 5th. Australians. A. Coy. Austr. Demob. Base.

5th Btn. HARRIDGE E. E. Pte. 3851 Missing 20/2/17.-

"I knew Casualty. He was about 5 ft. 7ins, thin. fair complexion, about 23 years of age. known as "Ern". I was told by Archie McPherson of 5th Btn. A.Co. 4th Plt.. that he saw Casualty killed in the advance at Menin Road by the exploslon of a shell. I left informant at Weymouth, England."

Informant: F. A. Jackson, Ho. 6026.

5th Battn. A.I.F. HARRIDGE E.E. 3651 "Missing 20-9-17"

Re Pte.E.E.Harridge. I am very sorry to say I am unable to give any information of him since the morning of the 20-9-17, when he went over the top with us that morning. If you made enquiries of the unit on our right that morning in Glencorse Wood, or on the right of Lone House, they may be able to supply something, but I could'nt say for certain. He was a lad I should say about 21 years, from slight to medium build, fair, about 5'6" in height. A fine soldier and well liked by all his comrades, and all felt very sad when we heard he was missing..

Letter from: McPherson A.S. FRANCE. 6-5-18 London