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Jul 9, 1881
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Born in Cobourg, Ontario to William and
Catherine (nee Daick) Harper
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Nov 5, 1914
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in
Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59427 (temporary number 255)
Ø Next of kin given as Catherine Harper, mother, Cobourg, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Mechanic
Ø Previous military experience given as 15 years in the 40th
Regiment, Canadian Militia, in Cobourg
Ø Religion given as Baptist
Ø Assigned to “C” Company
o This was later reorganized into “B” Company
Appointed to the provisional rank of
Sergeant
The battalion trained in the Kingston area
through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
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In January of 1915 Sergeant Harper wrote a letter to the editor of the
Cobourg World newspaper. The part of that
letter dealing with the women’s suffrage issue appears here
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Feb 10, 1915
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Married to Mary Ann Geddes Beattie in Toronto,
Ontario
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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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Jul 1, 1915
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Confirmed in the rank of Sergeant
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Aug 31, 1915
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Admitted to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital
with a Hernia
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Sep 1, 1915
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Reverted to the rank of Corporal at his own
request while in hospital
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Sep 4, 1915
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Surgery performed to repair the hernia
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Sep 9, 1915
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Posted to the Depot Company while in hospital
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Sep 11, 1915
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Transferred to the Ashford VAD (Volunteer Aid
Detachment) Hospital
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Sep 25, 1915
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Transferred to the 39th Reserve
Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital
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Oct 7, 1915
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Discharged to the 39th Reserve
Battalion from hospital with light duties
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Feb 3, 1916
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Reverted to the rank of private and transferred
to the 21st Battalion
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Feb 5, 1916
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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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Feb 17, 1916
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After leaving the CBD 2 days earlier, he joined
the 21st Battalion in the N & O front line trenches near Voormezeele,
Belgium
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Feb 21, 1916
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Reverted to the rank of Private
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Apr 25, 1916
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During the night of April 24-25, while the
battalion was in the front line trenches near Voormezeele, Private Harper received severe
shrapnel wounds to his right knee and was admitted to the No 5 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) for first aid
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Apr 26, 1916
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Transferred to the
No. 17 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment
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Apr 27, 1916
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Transferred via the No. 23 AT (Ambulance Train)
and admitted to the No. 4 Canadian General Hospital in Camiers, France where his right leg
was amputated
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May 7, 1916
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Placed on the seriously ill list
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May 11, 1916
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Private William Harper died of his wounds at the
No. 4 Canadian General Hospital and was buried in the nearby Etaples Military 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. A.G.B. Harper, 138 Galt Ave., Toronto, Ontario
A second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother,
Mrs. C. Harper, Box, 381 Cobourg, Ontario.
William Harper is also honoured on a family grave marker in the Union Cemetery, Cobourg, Ontario
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