"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history as chroniclers of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.
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Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM): For conspicuous gallantry between the 21st and the 30th August, 1915, at Kaiajik Aghala (Dardanelles), when in charge of machine guns. He invariably displayed great bravery and devotion to duty. L.G. 11 March 1916, p2746.
Mentioned in Despatches (MID): in connection with operations described in General I. hamilton's despatch dated 11 December 1915. L.G. 28 January 1916, p1210.
Last Unit Served:
Canterbury Mounted Rifles
Place of Death:
Egypt
Date of Death:
12 August 1916
Age at Death:
31
Year of Death:
1916
Cause of Death:
Died of wounds
Cemetery Name:
Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
Grave Reference:
M. 133.
Biographical Notes:
He was the sixth son of Mr George Harper of Christchurch, Barrister-at-law.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the New Zealand Mounted Rifles' Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry and left New Zealand with the Main Body New Zealand Expeditionary Force in October, 1914.
He saw much service in Gallipoli with the Machine-gun section of the C.Y.C., was wounded during the operations following Suvla Bay landing in August, 1915, and was sent to hospital in England.
For his services during these operations he was awarded the D.C.M. and at about the same time, received his commission as machine-gun officer. After recovering from his wound he returned to Egypt in December 1915 and saw service in the operations on the Suez Canal up to the time of his death.
He died at Cairo on 12 August 1916 from wounds received at the fighting at Romani, Egypt.
Description of Image:
Portrait from Powles, C.G. (1922).
Further References:
Boyack, Nicholas 'Behind the lines : the lives of New Zealand Soldiers in the First World War'
Alexander Turnbull Library MS Papers 1444; Letters 1914-15; Diary May-August 1915.
The Museum Library has a copy of 'Letters from Gunner 7/516 and Gunner 7/517' by Barbara Harper (Ref. D640) This is an edited edition of the letters written by these two soldiers during World War 1.
Military personnel file listed at Archives New Zealand. Search http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz for information about this person's Military Personnel File. Use the Simple Search option.
Additional Information:
Listed incorrectly as George Gerald in the Nominal Rolls
Sources Used:
Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume I. Wellington: Govt. Printer, 1914-1919
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