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

Sent: October 15, 2013

 

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