The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1675) Private Alexander John Harper, 54th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (1675) Private Alexander John Harper, 54th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1675 Private Alexander John Harper, 54th Battalion, AIF
DOW 15 October 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 16 October 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Alexander John Harper.

Alexander Harper was born in 1895 in Dubbo, New South Wales, one of ten children born to James Harper, a jockey, and his wife, Margaret. When Alexander was five years old his father died, aged just 38.

Alexander attended Geurie Public School and later worked as a farm hand. He and his brothers Norman and Archibald enlisted together in the Australian Imperial Force on New Year’s Day 1916, receiving consecutive service numbers. The three brothers were posted to the 2nd reinforcements to the 54th Battalion and spent time undergoing training at Dubbo’s military camp. At one point Alexander contracted measles and was sent home on sick leave. In May 1916 the three brothers embarked on the troop ship Ceramic, bound for Egypt.

The 54th Battalion was one of the units raised after the Gallipoli campaign as part of the doubling of the AIF. Alexander and Norman were sent from Egypt to England with the rest of the reinforcements for further training, and a month later sailed for France.

Having missed the 54th Battalion’s participation in the disastrous attack on Fromelles, Alexander and Norman joined up with their unit in September, ahead of the winter of 1916–17, the coldest Europe had endured for 40 years.

In early 1917 the 54th Battalion participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. It took a largely defensive part in the second battle of Bullecourt and held the line against heavy German counter-attacks. Norman Harper was killed in action on 15 May 1917.

In late September, Alexander Harper moved with the 54th Battalion to Polygon Wood. On 17 October 1917 the men of the 54th were advancing at Westhoek Ridge, and Harper was part of a working party digging a cable trench when a shell hit. The shell struck him in the leg and, according to an eyewitness, “blew it off”. Another reported that Harper and another soldier were “almost blown to pieces”. Harper was attended to and taken to the dressing station, and many witnesses recalled that during this time he was “in good spirits” and talking with his mates. Eventually, he was taken to the 12th Australian Field Ambulance, and later that day he died of his wounds. He had just turned 21.

Private T.H. Ryan of the 54th Battalion remembered Harper as “a good sort. A cobber of mine.”

He was buried in Menin Road South Military Cemetery, outside Ypres in Belgium.

Back home a memorial service was held at the Presbyterian church in Geurie. An article in the Wellington Times noted that the only regret of Alexander’s “twice bereaved mother” was that “she was too old to offer as a nurse”.

Alexander Harper’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Alexander John Harper, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Christina Zissis
Editor, Military History Section