John Ernest Harris joined up almost immediately war was declared by England on 4 August 1914.  Harris enlisted on 19 August, 1914, and was given the number 48. On the surface, he looked like the ideal recruit. He was English-born, by occupation a marine engineer, aged 30, single, and had previous experience in the armed forces. He had served with the 3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards for five years and then served in the Boer War (1899-1902) in the Green Howards, otherwise known as the Yorkshire Regiment. Either before or after that experience, he had served an apprenticeship with the firm Richardson Westgarth, at 3 Southbank Rd., Middleborough, England, where he presumablty got his qualifications as a marine engineer.