George Frederick Harris

 

Began as a railroad telegrapher in 1891. Later worked for Canadian Marconi on ships and at coastal stations. Served in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve during WWI. Worked as a Radio Operator, Radio Inspector. Was District Superintendent of Radio Regulations at DOT. Retired from DOT in 1957.

A débuté comme télégraphiste ferroviaire en 1891. Il a ensuite travaillé pour la compagnie canadienne Marconi à bord de navires et dans des stations côtières. Il a servi dans la Réserve des volontaires de la Marine royale canadienne pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Il a travaillé comme opérateur radio et inspecteur radio. Il a été surintendant de district de la réglementation radio au ministère des Transports. Il a pris sa retraite du ministère des Transports en 1957.

 

 

From: Anne Leavitt

Sent: October 15, 2013

Subject: Addition to website?

 

I recently discovered your radio communications website.  It's terrific.  The site asks for names of folks who might be included.  This is my grandfather:

George Frederick Harris  -- Born in Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland, in 1891, he became a railroad telegrapher and later joined Canadian Marconi where he served on several ships and coast stations before the war. During World War I he joined the RCNVR (Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve) and worked at the Barrington Passage Coast Station. After the war he joined the DOT’s Marine Radio Branch and worked at several east coast radio stations becoming a Radio Inspector and then District Superintendent of Radio Regulations for the Maritime Provinces and retiring in 1957.
 

George also served for years with C. R. Spracklin ( for whom you've got a nice write-up).  They were both Newfoundlanders, both worked for Marconi, both were founding members of the Barrington Station, and they were life-long best friends. :-)
 

There is a great photo of the Barrington crew, including George and Sprack, on page 27 of the following document written by Spurgeon G. Roscoe.

 

http://www.coastalradio.org.uk/spud/spud/spud05.pdf
 

All my best,
 

Anne Leavitt

The first Radio Operators at RCN Radio Station VAL in Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia which opened in 1915.

Sitting on the steps to the Operations Building. left to right:

E.D. Hayman      A.E. Argue      A.T. Lawton      G.F. Harris      C.R. Spracklin

(Photo courtesy of C. R. Spracklin)

 

Links   -   Liens

Reminiscences and some lines on a few of the Radio Regs fore'fathers by Bill Wilson