8/973 Private Donald Micklefield Harper, (11/121898-5/6/1915). "hoping to meet her son"

NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD

London, December 8. 

Mr. Charles W. Pickles, of Wellington, who has been staying in Yorkshire, left last week on his return to New Zealand. 

Miss Ada Ralph is on her way to London from Wellington. She will be married on her arrival to Mr. John I. Donovan. 

Mr. G. V. Housden. of the Emigration Branch of the High Commissioner's Office, is attached to the staff of the Record Office, with the rank of corporal. 

Mrs. Harper, of Dunedin, arrived here a fortnight ago, hoping to meet her son, Mr. Donald Harper, who is with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.   -Dominion, 15/1/1915.

Mrs Harper would wait a long time in London for her son.  It was assumed that the NZEF were temporarily in Egypt, having participated in the defence of the Suez Canal against a Turkish attempt to cross it with metal pontoons taken across the desert.  But, from Egypt, they went to Gallipoli.  Back home, the Evening Star held a "wayzgoose" at the Provincial Hotel.  There was a long list of toasts, beginning with "The King."

An extra toast submitted by Mr Cole was to the health of the five young men who have gone from the ‘Star’ to the front — viz., Chris. Calverley (jobbing apprentice), Walter Gray (jobbing compositor), Frank MacDonald (lino machinist), Albert Wilson (commercial department), and Donald Harper (news room apprentice). This toast was specially honored, and Mr Harris remarked that the firm had dealt very generously to these recruits.  -Evening Star, 12/4/1915.

A wayzgoose was a traditional dinner given by a printer for his employees, on or around St Bartholomew's Day (August 24). It originally - in the Northern Hemisphere - marked the end of working by natural light and the beginning of working by candle light.

NEW ZEALAND CASUALTIES

PRIVATE HARPER.

Private Donald Harper, whose death from gunshot wounds is cabled to-day, was only 18 years of age, he being a cadet in the Dunedin Engineers. He was born at Sydney, and came to Dunedin some seven years ago, completing his education at the Musselburgh and Arthur Street Schools. His first employment was at Messrs Butterworth Bros.' warehouse, but later he entered the 'Star' office, with the intention of becoming a linotype operator. He was one of the first in Dunedin to put his name down for active service. He is the third son of Mr Fred. E. Harper, of Anderson Bay road. Another son goes into camp with the next reinforcements.  -Evening Star, 17/6/1915.

Donald Harper died of wounds after being shot in the chest and head.  He is buried in Turkey, in the Shrapnel Valley Cemetery.

EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY. 

In respect to the memory of an ex-pupil, Donald Harper, the Musselburgh School flag was flown at half-mast yesterday. This young man died from gunshot wounds received at the Dardanelles.   -Otago Daily Times, 19/6/1915.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.