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Jul 13, 1889
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Born in Gananoque, Ontario to
Henry and Mary (nee Donnelly) Harper
The 1891 Census shows the
family living on Garden Island in the St. Lawrence River. His father, Henry, died on Garden Island in
1895
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Nov 12, 1914
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Attested into the 21st
Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59425
(temporary number 310)
Ø Next of kin given
as Mrs. H. Harper, widowed mother, 1st St., Gananoque, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation
given as Sailor
Ø Previous military
experience given as Drummer, 14th Regiment Princess of Wales’ Own
Rifles
Ø Religion given as
Church of England
Ø Assigned to “C”
Company
o This was later
reorganized into “B” Company
Robert Nelson became a Drummer
in the Bugle Band and employed at the front as a Stretcher Bearer. Later, when the band membership of both the
Pipe and Bugle Bands dwindled due to the casualty rate, the Bugle Band was
absorbed into the Pipe Band
The battalion trained in the
Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
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Mar 29, 1915
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Fined $2.00 for Drunkeness
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in
Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport,
England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe,
Kent to continue training
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May 29, 1915
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Reported to be AWL (Absent
Without Leave)
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May 31, 1915
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Reported for duty from being
AWL and sentenced to 10 days detention plus a fine of $10.00
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Jul 2, 1915
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Sentenced to 14 days detention
for Drunkeness
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Jul 24, 1915
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Pay is restricted for 2 months
for Drunkeness
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in
Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne,
France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Dec 8, 1915
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While in the front line N
& O trenches near Voormezeele, Belgium, the battalion came under an
artillery barrage and Private Harper received shrapnel wounds to his
legs. He was first evacuated to the
No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid then transferred to the
No. 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment
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Dec 9, 1915
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Transferred to the No. 13
Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, France
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Dec 13, 1915
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Invalided to England aboard
the Hospital Ship Brighton
On arrival in England he was
admitted to the Bevan Military Hospital in Sandgate
Posted to the 39th
Reserve Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital
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Dec 19, 1915
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Transferred to the Mansford
House Convalescent Hospital
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Jan 30, 1916
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Discharged from hospital to
light duties
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Mar 8, 1916
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Posted to the CCAC (Canadian
Casualty Assembly Centre) but remained attached to the 39th
Reserve Battalion at West Sandling
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Jul 13, 1916
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Declared fit for full duty and
posted to the 39th Reserve Battalion from the CCAC
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Jan 4, 1917
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Transferred to the newly formed
6th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling. Shortly after the formation of the
battalion it was moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front
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Mar 27, 1917
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Admitted to the Raven’s Croft
Military Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Tonsillitis
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Apr 7, 1917
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Discharged to duty from
hospital
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Apr 21, 1917
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion
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Apr 22, 1917
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian
Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength)
the 21st Battalion
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May 21, 1917
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After leaving the base depot,
Private Harper rejoined the 21st Battalion in the support trenches
near Vimy Ridge
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Jul 2, 1917
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Awarded the Good Conduct Badge
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Dec 27, 1917
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Granted 14 days leave
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Jan 12, 1918
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Rejoined the battalion from
leave
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Jun 25, 1918
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His mother Mary, died in
Gananoque, Ontario and his next of kin was changed to read Frederick Harper,
brother, 89 Bay St., Kingston, Ontario
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Dec 13, 1918
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Private Harper crossed the
Bonn Bridge as a member of the Pipe Band, entering Germany as part of the
occupying force at war’s end
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Dec 20, 1918
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Granted 14 days leave
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Jan 8, 1919
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Rejoined the battalion from
leave
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Feb 28, 1919
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Admitted to the No. 6 CFA with
a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), this was later
changed to read Influenza
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Mar 7, 1919
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Discharged from hospital and rejoined
the battalion
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Apr 3, 1919
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Embarked the Western Australia
in Havre
On arrival in England he was
posted to the ”P” Wing at Witley pending return to Canada
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May 14, 1919
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Embarked the SS Caronia in
Liverpool
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May 22, 1919
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova
Scotia and proceeded by train to Kingston, Ontario
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May 24, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF in
Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge
Private
Ø War Service Badge
Class “A” issued number 279865
Ø Proposed residence
on discharge Gananoque, Ontario
Following his discharge the
1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 11
Pembroke St., Kingston, Ontario
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May 4, 1920
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Married to Julia Barlow in
Kingston, Ontario
His occupation is shown as
Medical Orderly
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Jun 1, 1921
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The 1921 Census shows him
living at 10 Pembroke St., Kingston and his occupation as Hospital Worker
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From
the August 1960 issue of the Communiqué,
the 21st Battalion Association post war newsletter
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Nelson Harper continued playing a drum with the PWOR band
for many years. He is shown below, front row on the left in 1934
In 2019 his drum was donated to the PWOR Musuem by his family
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May 21, 1961
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Robert Nelson Harper died in
Kingston and was buried in the Cataraqui Cemetery there
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