Major Thomas Bertram Harris (MiD)
"C" Company, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
Date of Birth: 8th December 1877 aged 60
Place of Birth: Teignmouth, Devon
Date of Death: 15th April, 1947 aged 69
Buried: Teignmouth Old Cemetery, plot QQ2
Mentioned in Despatches
Mentioned in Dispatches, awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Major Thomas Bertram Harris was born on 8th December 1877 in Teignmouth, Devon.
His father, William Bartlett Harris (1843-1930) was born in Teignmouth, the son of Elizabeth and Thomas. He was a Solicitor and Agent for the North British Mercantile Insurance Company and at one point was chairman of Teignmouth District Council.
Thomas's mother, Caroline Harris née Holgate (1843-1927), was born in Rochdale, Yorkshire, and was the daughter of Jane and John, a solicitor (Messrs. Holgate and Roberts, Solicitors, Rochdale).
14 Powderham Terrace, Teignmouth (white building). Image Capture Aug: 2018 © Google 2019
In 1881, Thomas was living at 14 Powderham Terrace, Teignmouth, with his parents, his sister Elizabeth Holgate Harris (1874-1959) and his brother Sydney Bartlett Harris (1876-1935).
They had four servants living with them. A Nurse (Betsy Davey), a Cook (Harriet Maundie) a Housemaid (Jane Jarman) and an Under Nurse (Caroline Cotton).
The 1891 census shows the family had moved in with Thomas's 90 year old grandfather, who at the time was living at the Strand, Teignmouth.
Woodlands, Barnpark Road Teignmouth. Photo courtesy of the Woodlands Hotel
Thomas embarked upon a career in the Army.
On 16 February 1898 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, and on 24 June 1899 he became a Lieutenant.
By 1901, the family had moved to Woodlands, Barnpark Road, Teignmouth, in that same year Thomas was commissioned as Captain in the Devonshire Regiment.
His brother Sydney had become a solicitor, following in the footsteps of his father and maternal grandfather.
Devonshire Regiment
cap badge
Thomas was the Captain of "C" Company, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
The Battalion were stationed in Jersey from 1911, they left when war broke out at the beginning of August 1914 and landed at Le Havre France on 21st of August.
They joined the firing line on 15th September 1914 where heavy shelling gave them their first 100 casualties.
Thomas became a Major on the 1st September 1915.
Except for their five months in Italy, the 1st Devons served continuously in France from August 1914 until November 1918 and earned them 26 battle honours.
The war had cost the Battalion – whose total strength at any one time should have been 800 men – more than 1,150 killed and three times that number wounded.
The Keep Military Museum
Thomas's sister Elizabeth Holgate Harris served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse in the Teignmouth Voluntary Aid Hospital during the First World War.
His brother Sidney, joined the Army Pay Corps in 1916 and served with them for the duration of the war.
Thomas retired from the Army on April 4 1921.
By 1931 Thomas had a very different lifestyle and was playing a lot of Tennis. In the Teignmouth v. Newton Abbot Lawn Tennis played on the Lower Bitton courts Teignmouth, Thomas and Mrs Conybeare (T) won their match and later that year was winning his matches in the early rounds of the Teignmouth Tennis Open, Men's Singles Handicap, Men's Single's Open and Men's Double's open.
Elizabeth Holgate Harris (on right) in front of the Woodlands, others identification unconfirmed. © Niall Finneran
Thomas's brother Sidney died in 1936 aged 60.
In 1939, Thomas was living at Woodlands with his sister Elizabeth.
Living with them were a Cook (Eliza Isabella Parnell née Hooper), a Chauffeur (Eliza's son George Henry Parnell) and a Housemaid, (Eliza's niece Ethel Constance Homewood née Hooper).
Thomas was working with the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) which was training wardens. George the Woodlands Chauffeur had served as a Motor Mechanic during WW1 and was an ARP warden. This was three weeks after the outbreak of WW2.
In October 1945 Thomas won a prize in the local flower show which had been organised by the Royal British Legion to raise funds for the hospital.
Royal British Legion badge
The hospital and the Legion would have seen much service at that point as WW2 ended just a month previously and during WW2 the Royal British Legion provided officers to the Home Guard.
A later report shows that in February 1947 Thomas was re-elected president of the Teignmouth Branch of the Royal British Legion (which had increased its membership by 123 members in the preceeding 12 months).
In 1947 Thomas was elected president of the Teignmouth National Service Campaign panel (see below).
Thomas Bartram Harris died on 15th April 1947 aged 69.
Thomas's headstone
Thomas and several members of his family are buried in Teignmouth Cemetery.
His mother, Caroline died in 1927 and is buried in plot G127 along with her husband William who died in 1930. Thomas's brother Sydney died in 1935 and is in plot QQ150. Thomas is buried next to his sister Elizabeth who died in 1959 in QQ2.
Eliza Isabella Parnell née Hooper, the Cook at Woodlands remained with the family until she died in 1949 aged 80, Eliza is also buried in Teignmouth Cemetery (plot Rr87).
Parsnips 3ft. 6in. Long newspaper clipping 1945
Clipping Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 26 October 1945
Parsnips 3ft. 6in. Long
A highly successful horticultural show was held at the Unionist Hall, Teignmouth, on October 18th, arranged by the British Legion in aid of the hospital and British Legion.
Feature of the show was the exhibits of the Royal Western Counties Institution, Starcross, one of their Parsnips being 3ft, 8in. in length.
Principal winners were:-
W. M. Hibberd (Kingsteignton), J. Body (Ipplepen). C. Elms, A. H. Hearn, R. Borlase, F. Gilding, R. Snell, Capt. C. Mills, Miss K. Fraser, S. Leece, Major T. B. Harris, Miss Harris, W. Osborne (Shaldon), Mrs. F. Riddle. Mrs K. Gribble (Shaldon), Miss Carver, Miss Whalley, Mrs J. Morrison, Mrs, E. Powel, G. Heath, G. Brusey (Maidencombe), G. Bace, F. Cotton, A. Avent, F. Bennett, Miss Burckhardt (Bishopsteignton), Mrs. Phillips, Miss K. Bigg-Wither, and J. Issac.
Special prizes were won by G. Brusey (onions, cottagers section, C. Elms (open), S. Leece (most points in bottled fruit), Miss Burckhardt.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 26 October 1945
National Service Campaign newspaper clipping 1947
Clipping Exeter & Plymouth Gazette
February 17th, 1947
National Service Campaign
Panel formed for Teignmouth
Mr. W. H Smallcombe (Chairman of Teignmouth Urban Council) presided at a meeting to form a panel for the National Service Campaign.
Mr. A. H. Wadelton, secretary to Devon National Service Committee, said the panel was to advise it of any particular point.
In Teignmouth the A.R.P. service was nearly complete. Men were wanted for the Territorials and reserves for the Fire Brigade, and women were wanted for looking afer children drafted in the neighbourhood and nursing.
The response in Teignmouth so far had been excellent, and better than some districts. Miss B. Conybeare promised to carry out arrangements for Shaldon.
The Chairman said he was willing to speak at the cinemas.
A representative from Bishopsteignton said there had been a wonderful response in the village to take refugee children.
Those elected on the panel were Lieut-Colonel Keyworth, Major T. B. Harris, Messrs. W. H. Smallcombe, E. W. Parsons, A. J. Hockin, F. James, L. A. Stanbury, A. Taylor, W. H. Gale, E, King, and Miss K. Anson Cartwright (Teignnmouth), Captain J. L. Richardson, Mr. H. Irish, and Miss B Conybeare.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette February 17, 1939
Activity of Teignmouth British Legion newspaper clipping 1947
Western Times Clipping February 21 1947
More Members
Teignmouth Activity Of Legion
That the British Legion could do a great deal to help the community in present and future difficulties was emphasized by Brigadier J. Morrison, presiding over the annual meeting of Teignmouth branch on Friday.
Recalling the activities of the past year, the chairman mentioned that a flower show and tea to Service men's children had been held and the British Empire Cancer Campaign and the Welcome Home Fund assisted.
Mr. J. C Claud. hon. secretary, said fiteen pension cases had been submitted during the vear, one of which had been lost, nine Won, and five Were waiting for a decision.
The Assistant Secretary (Mr. S. W Stone) reported a membership of 301, 123 more than last year.
Major T. B Harris was re-elected president. Brigadier J. Morrison chairman, Brigadier R Drayson vice-chairman Mr. J. C. Cloud hon. secretary and treasurer; and Mr. S. W. Stone hon. assistant secretary.
Western Times February 21 1947
