Military History

Promoted to Sgt. 12.11.1914.
Embarked Fremantle per ‘Mashobra’ 8.1.1915 for Alexandria.
Roll Rank Sgt.
Roll Unit 3rd Light Horse Bde.,10th Light Horse Regiment .
Harper disembarked in Egypt 8.3.1915. After a period of training, he entrained to Alexandria. He was promoted to A/Sgt. and then Sgt. 12.11.1914. He volunteered to fight at the Dardanelles with other members of his Regt. in a dismounted capacity as Infantry reinforcements, he joined the MEF and embarked for Gallipoli 16.5.1915. Harper was promoted to T/ 2nd Lieut. Machine Gun Officer 1.8.1915 at ANZAC and taken on strength with 2nd ‘D’ Squadron. He was transferred to the 9th Light Horse Rgt. 23.9.1915 at ANZAC. He passed 1st Class at Machine Gun School at Mudros 29.11.1915. After evacuation he returned to Egypt 28.12.1915 and was appointed 2nd Lieut. He marched out to Serapeum 26.2.1916. Harper was again promoted 1.7.1916 to T/Capt. He was seconded to 3rd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron 11.9.1916. He was transferred to the 4th Machine Gun Section 24.10.1916. Harper attended a number of courses including 35th MG Course the Imperial School of Instruction in the Jordan Valley. He was appointed to the rank of Major 23.7.1917. Harper was wounded in action with a GSW to his right leg 25.9.1918. He rejoined his Regt. 12.10.1918. Harper sprained his ankle at Damascus in a riding accident 24.5.1919 and was taken to the General Hospital in Abbassia. Harper marched in to his Machine Gun Squadron at Damascus for demobilization 12.6.1919 and return to Australia.
Embarked Suez for Australia per RTA ‘Dongola’ 24.7.1919
Returned 17.8.1919.
Discharged/ Struck off Strength 26.8.1919.
Final Rank Major. 3rd Machine Gun Section.
Awards and Medals 1914- 15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Harper died in boating accident at Exmouth 1921, whilst carrying wool bales out to a schooner.(Western Mail 5.2.1922)
Photo Cptn. H.W. Harper, source unknown
           Cptn H.W.Harper paying feluice to Driver L.Corbett 1917. This image is from the collection of 1328 Private Richard Goldsmith Hummerston, sourced AWM P0556.029
           SS 'Mashobra'. Photographer unknown, photograph source Naval Collection AWM P10509.023.001
           Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli April 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A02781
           3rd Machine Gun Squadron 1917 at Khurbetha-Ibn-Harith. Photographer F. Hurley, photograph source AWM B01489

Information Source
AWM P0556.029. Cptn H.W. Harper. Photgraph sourced from the Australian War Memorial Pictorial Collection, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P05566.029
AWM  P10509.023.001. SS 'Mashobra'. Photographer unknown, photograph source Naval Collection  from the Australian War Memorial
AWM  A02781. Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli April 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  B01489. 3rd Machine Gun Squadron 1917 at Khurbetha-Ibn-Harith. Photographer F. Hurley, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll- Harold White Harper)
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Harper H W
Western Mail


Colin St. West Perth. WA.

Associated Images