HARPER, Norman

Norman Harper was the son of Harry and Margaret Harper, later of 'Ashley Mount', Prestwood Road, Stourton. In 1901 they were living with his aunt, Mrs Charles of 'Myrtle Cottage', Duncombe Street, Wollaston. Norman Harper enlisted in the Royal Marines before the outbreak of war and then served in one of the two Royal Marine Battalions in the Royal Naval Division. Their first main campaign was at Gallipoli in 1915. Upon evacuation they spent a few months on Imbros before being sent to the Western Front to take part in the Battle of the Somme. In 1917 they were involved at Vimy Ridge and Arras. Then they were transferred to Flanders for the final phase of the Third Battle of Ypres. The slow advance towards the village of Passchendaele had reached Poelcapelle and the Division was called on to make a final push to the ridge. Conditions in the water-logged front line were appalling, but an attack at dawn preceded by a barrage was ordered for the 26th October. The German defences in concrete strong-points known as Banff House, Bray Farm and Berks Houses were reached, but the Marine battalion had 500 casualties. Among those killed in action was Private Norman Harper. He was 23 years of age and is commemorated on the Tyne Co, Stourbridge and Wollaston Memorials.