At the High Street School this morning the head master drew attention to the fact that Sergeants Henderson and Ibbotson. past pupils of the school, had received the D.C.M. for bravery in the field. He said, however, that our joy in their success was overshadowed with grief for the death from wounds received in battle by Sergeant James Harper. This brave young fellow, who was preparing to be a teacher, had volunteered in the early, stages of the war, and had seen service in Egypt and Gallipoli before he fought in France. He was very much respected by his teachers, and very popular with his fellow-pupils, and his loss would be deeply felt by them. As a mark of respect for him and of sympathy with his people the pupils stood in silence for a few moments. -Evening Star, 31/7/1916.
Thursday, 6 July 2023
8/2003 Corporal James Harper, 19/7/1895-21/7/1916. "overshadowed with grief"
Private James Harper (killed in action) was the elder son of Mr Robert Harper. He attended the Otago Boys' High School and went from that institution to the Training College and University, with a view to entering the teaching profession, and had received a temporary appointment in one of the Oamaru public schools. He was a keen footballer and played for Varsity. He was in the Cadet Corps and later in the Territorials, and enlisted in the Fifth Reinforcements. He was wounded whilst on Gallipoli, where he also contracted fever. Private Harper was twenty-one years of age two days prior to his death. -Lyttelton Times, 31/7/1916.
Unfortunately, James Harper's Army record is not available online and I cannot say how or when he was wounded.
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