During his war service Private Harris kept a diary of some of his experiences, in it he describes the terrible shelling and gas bombardments his company faced detailing “hours further agony, falling in shell holes and slipping about carrying heavy loads we go into the trenches” as well as one incident where he mentions “somehow I was left alone with the dead mules etc, I felt real panicky. I remember the New Zealander who took my place in the trench asking me what it was like and I told him it was not too bad as I did not want to make it sound as it was actually fearful!!”. At one point in his diary he apologises for going two weeks without writing stating that he simply felt “too miserable”. Visit the diary at the collections section. https://www.jewsfww.london/louis-harris-diary-1991.php

In September 1917 Louis requested leave from the front in order to observe Rosh Hashanah back in England, unfortunately his Company had sustained heavy casualties and no leave was issued, however a letter from Rev. Adler assured Jewish soldiers that he was working to organises services to observe the holiday on the front.

To view Louis' diary in full follow the link below to the collection
https://www.jewsfww.london/louis-harris-diary-1991.php