John Tom HARPER DCM

John Tom HARPER DCM Update Details

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HARPER, John Tom

Service Number:	8732
Enlisted:	1 February 1916
Last Rank:	Lance Corporal
Last Unit:	3rd Field Company Engineers
Born:	Hyde Park, 4 August 1895
Home Town:	Hyde Park, South Australia
Schooling:	Unley Public School
Occupation:	Motor Mechanic
Died:	Cowandilla, SA, 8 May 1954, aged 58 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia General, Path 11, Grave 704
Memorials:	Unley Museum Honour Board, Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board

World War 1 Service

1 Feb 1916:	Enlisted
2 May 1916:	Involvement Sapper, 8732, 3rd Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: ''
2 May 1916:	Embarked Sapper, 8732, 3rd Field Company Engineers, HMAT Hororata, Sydney
11 Nov 1918:	Involvement Lance Corporal, 8732

Help us honour John Tom Harper's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge

General Birdwood presented his Distinguished Service Medal on 6 March 1920 in Adelaide.

Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts

Distinguished Conduct Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when ordered to place an entanglement round a captured enemy post. He, with three others, moved forward to the post several hundred yards under heavy fire, and proceeded to erect 150 yards of entanglement under direct observation of the enemy. While the work was being completed, he twice went back to report progress, and ask what he could do further. Finally, he carried despatches to battalion headquarters, through heavy enemy barrage. He set a splendid example of coolness and devotion to duty.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 4 March 1919

Bar to Distinguished Conduct Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and skill near Peronne from 1 to 5 September, 1918. He constructed two footbridges between Blaches and St. Radegonde under heavy shell and machine gun fire, and personally carried out valuable reconnaissance work at Peronne bridges. His coolness and ability were admirable.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 35
Date: 15 April 1920

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