Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John and Charlotte Harper. John, always known as Jack was educated at the Wesleyan School on Belvoir Road, and on leaving school was employed as a blacksmiths striker at Stablefords Wagon Works. He enlisted in the 1st/5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment in mid August 1914. At the time of his death he was a Sergeant in charge of a Lewis Gun section under the command of Captain Aubrey Moore of ‘C’ Company. The Battalion had recently moved to the frontline near to Fosse 3 (Lens Sector) when a shell burst at the entrance of the company’s headquarters. He was one of seven wounded, but died the following day. He had only just returned from a spell of home leave. Captain Aubrey Moore wrote to his parents:- “It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that your son Sergeant John Harper has died of wounds received on the night of June the 6th. An enemy shell dropped on the road killing and wounding some men who were with your son. Please accept the deepest sympathy of the officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the company. Your son was a general favourite with everyone and we deplore his loss bitterly. As you no doubt know he was in charge of the company’s Lewis guns, and was a thoroughly capable instructor, and a most valuable man. I shall have a very hard task to replace such a man. He did his duty and was a thorough sportsman, always bright and cheerful. Words fail to express my deep regret in your sad loss. If ever a man did his duty for his country it was your son and he died a soldier.” Frederick Williamson a comrade who had also lost his brother in 1916, also wrote to Jack’s parents:- “Jack was like a brother to me, a hero and game to the last. He was a soldier through and through and well liked and respected by all the Battalion. I saw dear old Jack before he went up and he was telling me what a good time he had whilst on leave. That was the last I saw of him. The next thing I heard was that he had been badly wounded and died a few hours afterwards. He was like so many others, he gave his life for his friends and you can guess how I felt it. I felt it more because I recently lost my own dear brother. I cannot write much more as I know you will be upset, but in closing let me write that may we be ready when we meet Jack in the land where there will be no war. Let us put our trust in the One that sees all.” His younger brother Ernest also fell. The War Diary for today records. MARQUEFFLES FARM. 2nd Lt BANWELL took party out to cut wire in front of enemy trenches with ammonal tubes.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 16th 1914

FAREWELL TO COALVILLE RECRUITS

INTERESTING PRESENTATION

An interesting event took place in the Coalville Primitive Methodist School on Wednesday night in the form of a café social to bid farewell to some young men connected with the church who have joined the army. The programme included piano solos by Mrs J. R. Bennett, Miss Stillwell, and Miss Kirk, solos by Mrs Fisher, Miss S. Hayes and Mr Williamson. Mandolin solos by Miss D. Kendrick and recitations by Miss Shepherd and Miss A. Kendrick.

During the evening, Billies were presented to Messrs. G. Bennett, V. Kelham, G. Taylor, and S. Holmes, who have joined the army or territorials. Other recruits, J. W. Harper and S. Dodds, were presented with a Primitive Methodist hymnal. An enjoyable evening was spent.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 29th, 1915

German Helmet Brought to Coalville - Swannington Soldier's Trophy

Lance-Corporal J. Harper, of the 5th Leicestershire Territorials, who before the war was employed at Messrs. Stableford’s Works, is on six day’s sick leave this week at his home in Belvoir Road, Coalville.

During the bombardment by the British artillery of the German position, just prior to the great advance by the Leicesters on October 13th, Harper was struck on the thigh with a piece of shell and had to be sent to the dressing station. He was not actually in the charge, but saw some of his pals who were, before he left for England and one of these, Pte. Gilbert, son of Mr and Mrs D. Gilbert, of Sunnydale, Swannington, asked him to bring home for him a German helmet which he (Gilbert) secured during the rushing of the enemy trenches.

Several of the Coalville lads, he says, brought back to their billets after the charge similar interesting mementos of their thrilling experiences.

Harper leaves Coalville again for France today.

Coalville Times article - Friday June 15th, 1917

Last Friday, Mr and Mrs John Harper, of 179 Belvoir Road, Coalville, received a telegram from the military authorities stating that their son, Sergeant J. Harper, had been dangerously wounded. This was followed by another telegram received on Monday, stating that he died on June 7th from the wounds. Sergeant J. Harper was one of the first fifty Territorials to leave Coalville, the party which had such a hearty send-off from Coalville Station on an October day of 1914, and very few of whom now survive. He was a single man, 25 years of age, and was employed at Stableford’s Works as a blacksmith’s striker before the war. He was recently at Coalville on leave, his injuries being sustained within a week of him returning to the Front. His father is a foreman at Messrs. Burgess and Son’s elastic web factory. Mr and Mrs Harper’s other two sons are also in the Army.

Coalville Times article - Friday June 22nd, 1917

Mr and Mrs Harper, of 179 Belvoir Road, Coalville, have received news from the War Office that their son, Sergeant J. Harper, died from wounds received in action on June 6th. He was in the Leicestershire Regiment, being one of the first 50 Territorials to leave Coalville. A letter received from Captain A. G. Moore states, “It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that your son, Sergeant J. Harper has died of wounds received on the night of June 6th. A shell dropped in the road killing and wounding some men who were with your son. Please accept the deepest sympathy of the officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the company. Your son was a general favourite with everyone and we deplore his loss bitterly. As you no doubt know, he was in charge of the company Lewis gun, and was a thoroughly capable instructor and a most valuable man. I shall have a very hard task to replace such a man. He did his duty and was a thorough sportsman, always bright and cheerful. Words fail me to express my deep regret in your sad loss. If ever a man did his duty for his country, it was your son and he died a soldier.”

A further letter has been received from a comrade at the Front, Fred Williamson, of Park Road, Coalville, whose brother was killed in action some months ago. Williamson writes that the deceased was a second brother to him. He was a hero and game to the last. He was a soldier through and through and was well liked and respected by all in the battalion, by whom he will be much missed. “I saw dear old Jack before he went up,” continues the writer, “and he was telling me what a good time he had whilst at home on leave. That was the last I saw of him. The next thing I heard was that he had been badly wounded and died a few hours afterwards. He was like so many others, he gave his life for his friends, and you can guess how I felt it. I felt it more having lost a brother myself. I cannot write much more as I know you will be upset. But in closing, let me say, let us all be ready for the time when we shall meet Jack in the land where there is no war and put our trust in the ‘One that sees All’.” Deceased was 25 years of age and single, and was formerly employed at Stableford’s Works.

Coalville Times article - Friday June 22nd, 1917

THANKS

Mr and Mrs J. Harper, of 179 Belvoir Road, Coalville desire to tender their sincere thanks for the many kind expressions of sympathy received on the occasion of the death of their son, Sergeant J. Harper, of the Leicestershire Regiment, who died of wounds received in action in defence of his country, on June 6th, 1917.

Coalville Times article - Friday June 7th, 1918

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of Sergeant J. Harper, 5th Leicesters, who died of wounds, June 7th, 1917.

“Greater love have no man than this: That a man lay down his life.”

Phyllis

In affectionate remembrance of Sergeant J. Harper, 5th Leicesters, who died of wounds, June 7th, 1917.

“What peaceful hours we once enjoyed;
How sweet their memory still,
But they have left an aching void
This world can never fill.”

From his loving Father, Mother and Brother

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 09/09/2017