Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edmund “Ted” Harrison was born in Sydney on the 11th March 1947, to Alice Rose (nee) Morley and Edmund Richard Harrison.

Harrison attended St Thomas Catholic primary school, then Dulwich Hill Technical school after which he was apprenticed as a motor mechanic. He didn't complete his apprenticeship but wanted to join the Army. He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on the 6 July 1964 aged 17 years three months. He did his recruit training at the army's recruit training centre, Kapooka New South Wales. He was then allotted to the Corps of Infantry and attended his infantry corps training at Ingleburn New South Wales.

Upon completion of infantry Corps training, Harrison was posted to E Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment which was then stationed at Gallipoli Barracks, Holsworthy NSW.

With the introduction of national service, and Australia's growing commitment to the Vietnam conflict, 5th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) was raised on the 1st of March 1965 and consisted of the old E Company 1RAR (which became A Company 5RAR) and the surplus ranks of other 1RAR companies including those who were under 19 years of age, unfit or had compelling compassionate reasons for not remaining with 1RAR for their forthcoming tour in South Vietnam, so Harrison became an inaugural member of the 5th Battalion.

In January 1966, he was 2/IC 1 Section, 1 Platoon, A Company, when the Battalion was 'warned out' for active service to replace 1 RAR and be part of a two-infantry-Battalion Task Force group to be situated at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province. Harrison had been promoted to Lance Corporal.

On Mothers Day, 8th May 1966, A Company 5RAR flew out of the RAAF Base at Richmond NSW for the Republic of South Vietnam.

Over the next six months he would become the acting section leader of 1 Section and be involved in all of the Battalion field operations and the building of the defences of the Task Force, with the exception of a week's stay at 8th Field Ambulance Vung Tau recovering from dengue Fever.

It was on the 18th October 1966 during Operation Queanbeyan as A Company were climbing the western approaches to the Nui Thi Vai mountains a booby trap was tripped wounding Harrison with multiple grenade fragments to his chest, head and abdomen. Three members of his section were also wounded. He was evacuated to the American 36th Evacuation Hospital at Vung Tau, where his condition was listed as serious.

On the 2 November with his wounds healing well, he was casevaced to Australia aboard an RAAF C130 aircraft and was admitted to 2 Camp Hospital Ingleburn NSW.

In January 1967 he was discharged from hospital and posted to 2 Div, South Head and placed on the unallotted List. In February that year he was posted to the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion Singleton, NSW, as a basic Training Instructor and later as an Infantry corps instructor, instructing national servicemen.

During his time there he applied for and was selected to attend the 100th Basic Parachute Course at the RAAF Base, Williamtown NSW. He passed the course as an above average student and decided to apply for a posting to the Airborne Platoon. His request to join the Platoon was approved on the proviso he reverted to the rank of private. During this time he completed his 'Static Line Stick Commanders Course'.

In July 1969, he requested discharge after 6 years service and on the 6th July he took discharge and returned to Sydney.

Over the next 17 months Harrison couldn't settle down and adapt to civilian life and so on the 3rd December 1971, he re-enlisted. He was posted to the 5th Battalion RAR then at Holsworthy and Commanded by LTCOL. John Hooper CBE. In March of that year he re-applied to join the Airborne Platoon and was successful. In June 1972 he successfully completed the 11/72 Military Free Fall Course and the Inflatable Craft Course at 1 Commando Company ARES. In 1973 he was promoted to Corporal.

1974 saw Harrison posted to 1 Commando Company ARES, as a member of the Regular Army Cadre Staff as the amphibious storeman and assistant instructor. During this time he qualified in the Roping and Rappelling Course, Shallow water Divers Course, Submarine Familiarisation Course and the Parachute Jump Instructors Course held at the Parachute Training Flight RAAF Base Williamtown.

Due to the fact that he was continually overlooked for promotion to Sergeant, July 1979 saw him seek discharge and leave the army for the final time.