Military History

Harper was appointed Acting Corporal 5.10.1914 and Acting Quarter Master Sergeant 16.11.1914
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Mashobra’ 8.2.1915,
Roll Rank Trooper.
Roll Unit, 3rd Light Horse Bde, 10th Regiment, ‘A’ Squadron
Harper disembarked in Egypt with the 10th Light Horse Regiment 8.3.1915. After a period of training, he joined the MEF at Alexandria. The Light Horseman were deployed in a dismounted capacity as infantry. They embarked at Alexandria for Gallipoli 16.5 1915. Harper and his Regt. disembarked at Gallipoli 20.5.1915. Harper wrote to a friend about his experience in the trenches (Argus 10.8.1915 p 5). His Regt. was selected to take part in the 3rd and 4th waves of the attack on the Nek. Harper was reported missing in action 7.8.1915. At the Court of Enquiry held on 9.8.1915, Harper was deemed KIA at Walker’s Ridge, Gallipoli Peninsula on or about 7.8.1915. Whilst records state Harper was reported buried where he fell. This is challenged in a letter by his sister Clara Robinson (nee Harper) (NAA:B2455, Harper G). Many of those killed could not be identified or were not buried until another 4 years later by the War Graves Commission. Today Harper is commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Cannakkale Province, Turkey.
Final Rank Private/ Trooper 19th Regiment, 3rd Light Horse Bde.
Medical Condition Dec’d, KIA.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Anzac Commemorative Medallion
Notes. Gresley and brother Wilfred were the sone of prominent pastoralist, Member of Parliament and newspaper editor, Charles Harper and wife fanny. The sons were educated in part at Guildford Church of England later Guildford Grammar School, where they were noted for academic and sporting skills. Their home, Woodbridge is now run by the National Trust of Australia (WA).  Brother's Wilfred and Gresley were both KIA at Gallipoli. Gresley and Wilfred Harper's names were perpetuated by Mr. Caton Grasby who named two wheat type after them (West Australian Newspaper 8.12.1928 p20)

Photographic Image Tpr. Gresley Tatlock Harper. Image Barletto Studio, sourced AWM P07183.001.
                                     Harpers and Lukins image reproduced with permission of P.Sullivan
                                     SS 'Mashobra'. Photgrapher unknown, photograph source Naval Collection AWM P10509.023.001
                                     Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph source AWM P00035.001
                                     Cemetery near Lone Pine 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C01486
                                     Lone Pine Memorial Gallipoli 1936. Photograph donor J.Richter, photograph source AWM P02768.007

Information Source
Argus -Melbourne
AWM P10509.023.001. SS 'Mashobra'. Photgrapher unknown, photograph sourced from the  Naval Collection from the Australian War Memorial
AWM P00035.001. Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM C01486. Cemetery near Lone Pine 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  P02768.007. Lone Pine Memorial Gallipoli 1936. Photograph donor J.Richter, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Honour Roll- Gresley Harper
AWM Image Tpr. Gresley Tatlock Harper. AWM P07183.001. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P07183.001
AWM Embarkation Rolls- Gresley Harper
Correspondence from C.W Harper to his sister Clara re brothers' deaths Ref: Battye Library MN 94 3706A/12
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Harper G T
National Trust Australia (WA) http://www.valuingheritage.com.au/images/Woodbridg-Extracts-from-Letters.pdf
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
St Matthew’s Fallen
West Australian Newspaper
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

‘Woodbridge’, York Road, (now off Ford Street) Woodbridge. WA.

Associated Images