HARPER, Alexander John
| Service Number: | 1675 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 54th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Geurie, New South Wales, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Geurie, Wellington, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Geurie Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 15 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Menin Road South Military Cemetery Plot III, Row L, Grave 24. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Wellington Cenotaph, Wellington Hall of Memory Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1675, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1675, 54th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Apr 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1675, 54th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Alexander Harper was born in 1895 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 Alexander was five years old his father died in a horse fall near Geurie, at 38 years of age. Alexander and his brothers and sisters attended Geurie Public School.
He and his brothers Norman 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.
Alexander joined his unit in France during September 1916, having missed the 54th Battalion’s participation in the disastrous attack on Fromelles.
His older brother, 1676 Pte. Norman Harper 54th Battalion was killed in action near Bullecourt on 15 May 1917, aged 23.
In late September 1917, Alexander Harper moved with the 54th Battalion to Polygon Wood. On 17 October 1917 the men of the 54th were advancing at Westhoek Ridge, and Harper was part of a working party digging a cable trench when a shell hit. An eye witness stated “His leg was blown off by a shell near Westhoek ridge. He was taken to a dressing station but died there.” Harper was attended to and taken to the dressing station, and many witnesses recalled that during this time he was “in good spirits” and talking with his mates. Eventually, he was taken to the 12th Australian Field Ambulance, and later that day he died of his wounds. According to his mates said he was a ‘good sort’, ‘a game little chap’ and ‘very quiet’.
His other brother, 1674 Pte. Archibald Victor Vivian Harper, Australian Veterinary Hospital, returned to Australia during July 1919.
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