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. Before the war Ernest was employed by Messrs. Burgess and Sons., elastic web manufacturers of Belvoir Road, Coalville. His elder brother John W. also fell. The War Diary for today records. REUTEL. The day was fairly quiet except for intermittent shelling, we had some casualties. 5.00pm. The Battalion commenced to withdraw from their forward positions in accordance with Brigade orders, in the order “A”, “C”, “B”, “D”. “A” Company were fired at by an enemy plane at close range, having a few casualties. The two attached Companies of the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. remained in position until relieved by 10th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS. The Battalion experienced a good deal of difficulty whilst coming out owing to hostile barrages, the last sections arriving at ANZAC CAMP at 9.00am.the following morning. Casualties whilst relieving were fairly severe, particularly in “C” Company. 2nd Lt. STANDLEY “C” Company was wounded.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday November 16th, 1917.

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Mr and Mrs J. Harper, of 179, Belvoir Road, Coalville were officially notified on Tuesday morning that their youngest son, Pte. Ernest Harper, of the Leicesters, was posted as missing after an engagement in the field on October 10th last. He was 20 years of age, having joined up two years ago, and had been in France about 16 months. Before the war, he worked at Messrs. Burgess and Sons’ Elastic Web Factory in Belvoir Road, Coalville, where his father is employed. Another son of Mr and Mrs Harper, the eldest Sergeant John Harper, of the Leicesters, was killed in action on June 7th last. The middle son, Harold, who was formerly assistant schoolmaster at Stanton-under-Bardon, is also in the army, serving in England.

Coalville Times article - Friday December 21st, 1917.

MILITARY MEDAL

AWARDED TO MISSING COALVILLE SOLDIER

Pte. E. Harper, of the Leicestershire Regiment, who has been awarded the Military Medal, is a son of John Harper, an employee at Messrs. Burgess and Son’s elastic web factory, Belvoir Road, Coalville, where the soldier also worked before joining up. He is 20 years of age, and has been reported missing since October 10th last. Mr Harper’s three sons all joined up, one has been killed in action, one reported missing, and the other is serving in England.

Coalville Times article - Friday January 4th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Mr and Mrs John Harper, of 179, Belvoir Road, Coalville have received official intimation that their youngest son, Private Ernest Harper, of the Leicesters, reported missing on October 10th, was killed in action on that date or died of wounds. He was 20 years of age, and formerly worked at Messrs. Burgess and Son’s elastic web factory, Coalville, where his father is employed. The name of the deceased soldier recently appeared in a list of men who had been awarded the Military Medal. Mr and Mrs Harper have now lost two of their three soldier sons in the war. The oldest, Sergeant J. Harper, of the Leicesters, was killed in June last. The remaining one, Harold, formerly a schoolmaster at Stanton-under-Bardon, is serving on the East Coast. In reference to the death of Ernest, Mr and Mrs Harper have received a letter from his friend, Private J. W. Kelly, who says, “First of all let me congratulate you on having such a brave lad. I can testify to his coolness and courage, as he was with me all through the battle. After our corporal and other members of the team were put out of action, it was up to me and Ernest to carry on. He had a cut on his forehead and hand, and his left pouches shot away by shrapnel, and I begged him to go to the dressing station, but he refused to leave me. We are all pleased he won the Military Medal, but it is hard luck that he is not here to have the honour of wearing it. We were relieving at the time his job happened. He was just behind me when a big shell dropped right against us. I was knocked over by the explosion, and I looked round for him, but never saw him again. The boys all send their deepest sympathy, and please accept the same from me. He was such a dear little chap, and well-liked by everyone. May God help you in your trouble.” A note is also added by F. Spriggs, testifying to the soldier’s bravery, and expressing sympathy with the parents.

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 receipt of the news that their youngest son, Pte. Ernest Harper, M.M. of the Leicester Regiment, has been killed in action in France.

Coalville Times article, Friday, July 5th, 1918.

COALVILLE DECEASED SOLDIER’S MEDAL

Mr J. Harper, of 179, Belvoir Road, Coalville, recently visited Derby, where, at the hands of Sir John Maxwell, he received the Military Medal, awarded to his youngest son, Pte. Ernest Harper, of the 7th Leicesters, for bravery in the field. Pte. E. Harper was killed in action on October 10th, 1917, and before the war, worked at Messrs. Burgess and Son’s factory, where his father is employed. Mr and Mrs Harper have lost two sons in the war, Sergeant J. Harper being killed on June 7th, 1917. Another son is serving.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 11th, 1918

IN MEMORIAM

In affectionate remembrance of Ernest Harper, 7th Leicesters, (Military Medallist) who was killed in action in Belgium, October 10th, 1917, just four months after his oldest brother, Sergeant J. Harper, 5th Leicesters, who died of wounds, June 7th, 1917.

“Went the day well or ill
They died and never knew
But well or ill Britain,
They died for you.”

From loving Father and Mother and Brother. 179 Belvoir Road, Coalville, October 7th, 1918.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 29/12/2017.