HARPER, Harold George
| Service Number: | 3838 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 September 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bowden, South Australia, 30 June 1894 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Christ Church CofE School and Quorn School |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Fireman (S.A.R.) |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 2 April 1917, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Noreuil Australian Cemetery, Picardie |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3838, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Mar 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3838, 50th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, HMAT Miltiades, Adelaide | |
| 2 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 3838, 50th Infantry Battalion, Noreuil, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3838 awm_unit: 50 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-04-02 |
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Parents James William Harper & Madora Elizabeth Harper of 12 Falcon Ave, West Adelaide.
He was killed by machine gun and died instantly. He was 5'2" & stumpy build.
He wrote a letter to his comrade John (Jack) Smith's mother at Mt Lofty. (see attached image)
"Somewhere in France" March 4th 1916.
Dear Mrs Smith,
Jack and I are quite well and I do hope that you and all at Mt Lofty are the same. I am writing you these few lines to let you know how Jack and I are getting on over here. We were together in the first heavy battle and ? part in the last Aug 12th 1916 and I thought it would be very encouraging for you to know how good and brave a lad Jack was under such heavy trench bombardment, that we were under from Aug 12th to 15th 1916. I am not in Jacks section now, but I see him very often. I am in teh machine gun section. We are out of the front line area at present and we are having a few weeks spell. It was very cold during our time in the front line area, and snow covered the ground for nearly a month. We had no rain whilst the snow lay on the ground, and the ground being frozen hard, there was no mud. I heard about it snowing at Mt Lofty last year, it must have been a very pretty sight to see the houses, churches and trees covered with snow. It was not a pretty sight on the battlefield to see the snow because there is not a house or tree left standing, where before the war stood a pretty forest or wood nothing is left now but stumps and shell holes. Well Mrs Smith I must now say Good Bye for a time hoping you are all quite well, also hoping that Jack and I will be safe home again before next Christmas. From your loving sons pal, Harold. 3838 L Cpl H. G. Harper.
"LATE ACTING CPL. H. G. HARPER.
The late Acting Cpl. Harold George Harper was born in Adelaide on June 30, 1894, and was therefore in his twennty-third year. He was educated at Christ Church Church of England School, and also at the Quorn State school. He gave promise of a successful career. He was of a quiet disposition, and was respected by all who came in contact with him. The deceased joined the Locomotive Department as engine cleaner, and worked his way up to fireman. His great ambition was centred on the clerical staff of the South Australian Railways, and he was studying and attending Scott & Hoare's College when the war broke out. He enlisted in September, 1915, and embarked for the front on February 7, 1916. He was fight- ing in Egypt for a brief period, and arrived in France aboat May, 1916. He had been in the firing line up to the time of his death. He was also a chorister at Christ Church, North Adelaide, under Mr. H. H. Wailaie Packer, organist." - from the Adelaide Observer 05 May 1917 (nla.gov.au)
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