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May 23, 1872
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Born in Morrisburg, Ontario to James Samuel and
Julia (nee Hopper) Harper
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Nov 4, 1891
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Married to Lydia Jane Crowder in Winchester,
Ontario
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Mar 29, 1916
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Attested into the 154th Battalion CEF
in Chesterville, Ontario
Ø Number 633963
Ø Next of kin given as Lydia Jane Harper, wife, Grantley, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Farmer
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Methodist
The battalion trained in the Barriefield Camp,
Kingston, Ontario
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Oct 25, 1916
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Embarked the SS Mauretania in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Oct 31, 1916
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Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the
battalion proceeded to Bramshott to continue training
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Jan 31, 1917
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Transferred to the newly formed 6th
Reserve Battalion in East Sandling. Shortly
after the formation of the battalion, it moved to Seaford to begin training troops there.
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Apr 14, 1917
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Admitted to the Ravenscroft Hospital in Seaford. There was no diagnosis recorded in the file
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Apr 20, 1917
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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May 3, 1917
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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May 4, 1917
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in
Etaples, France as part of a draft of 73 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On
Strength) the 21st Battalion
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May 7, 1917
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Left the CBD and joined the 21st
Battalion in the front line trench near the Vimy rail line, close to the town of Thelus
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Feb 10, 1918
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Granted 14 days leave
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Feb 19, 1918
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At the completion of
his leave he reported to the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart,
France prior to rejoining the battalion
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Aug 27, 1918
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Private Harper was killed during the battalion’s
advance on the Sensee River near Vis-en-Artois and was buried shortly after in the
Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery
Following the war the British War Medal, Victory
Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widow,
Mrs. Lydia Harper, Chesterville, Ontario
There was no Memorial Cross to his mother as she
had pre-deceased him
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Private Harper is also honoured in the family plot in the Maple Ridge
Cemetery, Chesterville, Ontario
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