Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Photo of John Parker Harper – (From Stanstead College Yearbook, July 1919) When the war broke in August 1914, Jack Harper was with a Government Survey in Alberta. Not wishing to enlist in the west he came home to Montreal, and in October 1914 enlisted in the 21st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. He sailed for overseas with the Second Contingent, Feb. 17th 1915. He was at several artillery camps in England, and was first transferred to the Royal House Artillery and later to the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, and with that unit went to France in June 1915. This battery was kept particularly busy and Jack had only one leave of ten days from France. The unit was mentioned several times in dispatches for especially good work. They fought with the British and French forces along the Somme, at St. Quentin, Arras, Albert, Combles, Givenchy, Hills 60 and 70, but were joined to the Canadian forces shortly before they went sent to Lens. It was at Lens that Jack was killed. He was smoking in a dugout with three other men just after breakfast, when a shell came through and exploded in their midst burying them all. Jack was instantly killed while his three chums came out without an injury. He was buried in a cemetery just six miles from Lens, at Ablain, St. Nazaire.

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram September 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram September 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Montreal Star c.1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me