Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Patrick Bertrand Harpur was born on 03 May 1880, with the brith registerd in Dubbo (as Patrick Berthard Harpur), the son of John Rowland Harpur and his wife, Honora Harpur nee Sullivan. John Rowland Harpur was aboriginal, son of aboriginal (probably Wiradjuri) Jeremin (aka Sarah/Sally Medley), identified in the Bathurst Blanket Lists, and an unknown father, referred to as Thomas Harpur.  Honorah was daughter of Irish convict Cornelius Sullivan and his wife MaryFarrell, a free Irish immigrant.

Patirck's early life, coming from such under-priveleged beginnings, was not an easy one.  His parents took up a selection of 106 acres on the Talbrager River at Dubbo, where they cultivated 10 acres but could not afford stock. By 1881, the year after Patrick's birth, his father filed for bankruptcy, giving the primary reason for his insolvency as heavy expenses relating to the illness and subsequent deaths of three of his and Honorah's children, between 1879 and 1881. Obliged to sell the farm, he then rented a house at Nyngan and worked as an assistant butcher, to support the family.  Patrick's early years were thus largely, spent at Nyngan. John was solely dependant on a meagre labouring income, to support his wife and remaining five children.

In 1903 eldest son Phillip is listed in the electoral roll as a butcher at Nyngan and it is likely that Patrick worked with him to learn the butchering trade. Father, John, died in 1904 at Nyngan and mother Honora moved to Wrightville near Cobar, where she lived in proximity to her daughter, Mary. Patrick gave Wrightville as his home address and listed Honora as his next of kin, when he enlisted at the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds, Sydney on 3rd May 1916. His attestment papers show that he was only 5.4" tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His occupation is given as butcher.

Patrick was never married, but appears to have had close relationships with his siblings, especially Henrietta Fynn (nee Harpur).  Enlisting was probably seen by him as the start of an adventure.  

He was placed in the 55 Battalion and travelled on the ship Aeneas from Sydney to Plymouth.  On 21 December his Battalion travelled via the ship Princess Victoria to France, where final training occurred at Etaples. On 10 February, his record shows that he marched out to the field.  On 10th May, Red Cross reports show that he was wounded when a shell landed and exploded in a trench that he was occupying.  Five soldiers were killed including the Captain, Captain Gardiner and two, one being Patrick, were wounded.  Patrick's wounds were to his legs, with one leg being amputated immediately.  He went to a field hospital but contracted gas gangrene in his other leg wound and died of septicaemia on 12th May.

"Mrs N. Harpur of Wrightville has received information that her son Private P. B. ("Bert") Harpur died on 12th May of wounds received in France. He was a single man, well-known in Wrightville and enlisted from Sydney in April, 1916. He was 37 years of age." - from the Dubbo Western Age 15 Jun 1917 (nla.gov.au)