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Jan 22, 1886
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Born in Hinchinbrooke, Ontario to Samuel and
Ellen (nee Martin) Harper
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Nov 5, 1914
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in
Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59426 (temporary number 641)
Ø Next of kin given as Samuel Harper, father, Godfrey, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Farmer
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Assigned to “F” Company
o This was later reorganized into “C” Company
o He was later transferred to the Transport Section
The battalion trained in the Kingston area
through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
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Mar 5, 1915
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Forfeited 1 day’s pay for an unspecified
offence
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Apr 7, 1915
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Fined $2.00 for drunkenness
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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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Sep 1, 1915
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Fined $6.00 for being drunk and restricted to
half pay for 2 months
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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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Jan 16, 1916
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Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Influenza
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Jan 17, 1916
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Transferred to the Divisional Rest Station at
Godewaersvelde, France to recover
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Jan 20, 1916
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Discharged to duty from the rest station and
rejoined the battalion in Ridgewood, Belgium
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Jun 29, 1916
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Admitted to the No. 4 CFA with shrapnel wounds
to his back
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Jul 2, 1916
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Transferred to the Divisional Rest Station at
Godewaersvelde
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Jul 3, 1916
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Transferred to the No. 5 CFA for treatment
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Jul 8, 1916
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After being
discharged from hospital he rejoined the 21st Battalion in the Chippawa rest
camp near La Clytte, Belgium
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Dec 18, 1916
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Granted 10 days leave
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Dec 28, 1916
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Rejoined the battalion from leave
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Nov 28, 1917
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Granted 14 days leave
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Dec 11, 1917
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Rejoined the battalion from leave
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Nov 18, 1918
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Granted 14 days leave
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Feb 24, 1919
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Admitted to the No. 6 CFA with a diagnosis that
reads NYD (Not Yet Determined) Mental. He was
transferred the same day to the No. 53 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)
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Feb 26, 1919
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Transferred by an ambulance train and admitted
to the No. 8 Stationary Hospital in Wimereux for treatment
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Mar 3, 1919
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Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship
St. Andrew
On arrival in England he was admitted to the
Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley, near Southampton and the diagnosis is changed to read
Influenza
Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental
Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Mar 6, 1919
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Transferred to the Lord Derby War Hospital,
Warrington and diagnosis is changed to read General Paralysis of the Insane
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May 21, 1919
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Invalided to Canada aboard the Hospital Ship
Araguaya
TOS (Taken On Strength) the #3 District Depot in
Kingston
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May 30, 1919
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Disembarked in Portland Maine, USA and proceeded
to Cobourg, Ontario
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Jun 1, 1919
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Admitted to the Cobourg Military Hospital with a
diagnosis that reads GPI (General Paralysis of the Insane)
Notes on admission
Ø Pupils do not react to light
Ø Speech slurred
Ø Involuntary urination
Ø Claims to have earned the Victoria Cross for killing hundreds of
Germans
Ø Marked memory defects, thinks the year is 1819
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Jul 4, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF while in hospital
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø Discharged as Medically Unfit
Ø Discharged into the care of the SCR (Soldier’s Civil
Re-Establishment) Department
Ø To remain in custodial care in hospital
Ø Proposed residence on discharge Godfrey, Ontario
Following his discharge the 1914-15 Star,
British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to his home in Godfrey, Ontario
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Nov 29, 1919
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Transferred to the Rockwood Hospital for the
insane in Kingston, Ontario under the care of the SCR
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Aug 13, 1920
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Following a gradual deterioration of his
condition Private Harper passed away in the Rockwood Hospital in Kingston. His official cause of death is recorded as General
Paralysis of the Insane. He was buried in the
Piccadilly, Ontario Cemetery. He is also named on the family headstone in the same
cemetery
 
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