HARPER, Reuben Henry
| Service Number: | 5109 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Elderslie, Tasmania, Australia, 9 September 1893 |
| Home Town: | Elderslie, Southern Midlands, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 29 March 1964, aged 70 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5109, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 5109, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 29 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 5109, 12th Infantry Battalion, RMS Orontes, Melbourne | |
| 20 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 52nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Reuben Harper was awarded a Military Medal during April 1918 at Dernancourt for repeatedly carrying important messages between Battalion Headquarters and his Company and to other Companies and units in the forward posts under extremely heavy fire of all weapons.
He returned home to a hero’s welcome in Elderslie, Tasmania during March 1919. His younger brother, 675 Lce. Cpl. Roy Bayles Harper 40th Battalion AIF had died of wounds in France 12 February 1917, aged 21. Another brother, 128 Pte. David Thomas Harper served with the Australian Flying Corps and was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal.
They were the sons of Thomas Duncan and Elizabeth Harper, of Elderslie, Tasmania.
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