Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Norman Harper was born in 1894 in Geurie, New South Wales, one of ten children born to James Harper, a jockey, and his wife, Margaret. Geurie is about 30 kilometres south east of Dubbo, New South Wales. When Norman was six years old his father died in a horse fall near Geurie, at 38 years of age. Norman and his brothers and sisters attended Geurie Public School.

He and his brothers Alexander and Archibald enlisted together in the Australian Imperial Force on New Year’s Day 1916 at Dubbo, receiving consecutive service numbers in the 54th Battalion.

Norman joined his unit in France during September 1916, having missed the 54th Battalion’s participation in the disastrous attack on Fromelles.

In the early morning of 15 May 1917, the 54th Battalion’s front-line positions were subjected to heavy German artillery bombardment. The Australians were attacked by the Germans and a series of counter-attacks resulted in the Germans being eventually driven back after suffering heavy losses.

Norman Harper was among the 61 men of the 54th Battalion who were killed during the action, and a mate said he saw Harper’s body near one of the recaptured trenches. Norman’s remains were lost and he has no known grave.

His brother, 1675 Pte. Alexander John Harper 54th Battalion AIF, later died of wounds in Belgium 15 October 1917, aged 22. The other brother, 1674 Pte. Archibald Victor Vivian Harper, Australian Veterinary Hospital, returned to Australia during July 1919.

Norman’s mother had remarried and her name was Margaret Herring in her correspondence with the AIF after the war. She was still seeking information about Norman’s grave in 1925, when she was informed that his name would be commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial.