George Harper was the son of William and Martha Jane Harper. He was born in Errigal, Tyrone on 5th September 1893. They were a farming family. His father died when he was ten. George Harper enlisted in Fivemiletown. Private George Harper was serving with the North Irish Horse when he died in England on Monday, 24th May 1915.
Further Information
George Harper was the youngest son of William and Martha Jane Harper. William Harper and Jane English were married on 14th November 1879 in the district of Dungannon.
George Harper was born in Errigal on 5th September 1893. He was the youngest of six children, all born in the Clogher area.
Family: William Harper, Martha Jane Harper, William Harper (born 25th March 1882), David Harper (born 25th March 1882), James Harper (born 23rd January 1884), Lucie Harper (born 24th September 1886), Julia Lily Harper (born 12th August 1889), George Harper (born 5th September 1893).
The 1901 census lists George as age 7, living with the family at house 4 in Lismore, Favor Royal, County Tyrone. His father was a farmer and army pensioner.
George’s father, William Harper died on 22nd February 1904, aged 64. George would have been ten years old.
The 1911 census records 17 year old George living with the family in Corcreevy, Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone. His mother was a widow. They were a farming family.
George was a member of Cavanaleck L.O.L. No. 623.
George was a section leader in Cavanaleek Company, Ulster Volunteer Force.
George Harper enlisted in Fivemiletown at the end of January 1914.
Private Harper embarked for France on 20 August 1914 as part of C Squadron, North Irish Horse.
Private George Harper was serving with the North Irish Horse when he died at Netley Hospital of spinal meningitis in England age 21, on Monday 24th May 1915.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 29th June 1915:
Trooper Georg Harpur, of the North Irish Horse, a native of Corcreevy, Fivemiletown, who has been at the front since the outbreak of the war, has died at Netley Hospital from spinal meningitis. The deceased was formerly a section leader in Cavanaleek Company, Ulster Volunteer Force.
From the Impartial Reporter unknown date:
His many friends at Fivemiletown, have learned with much regret, of the death of Trooper George Harper of the North Irish Horse, a resident of Corcreevy, Fivemiletown at Netley Hospital, on May 23 from spinal meningitis. The deceased, who was only 19 years of age, went out to France at the beginning of the war, and was through the retreat from Mons and several other engagements before he took ill. He was formerly a member of Cavanaleck LOL 623 and Band and was a section leader in Cavanaleck Company UVF in which he took a great interest. The funeral took place with military honours, to the military cemetery at Netley, Southampton, on Friday. The coffin carrying the remains was draped with a Union Jack and drawn by a pair of black horses on a gun carriage. The military chaplain (Church of Ireland) officiated and the bugler sounded The Last Post over the grave. The chief mourners were deceased’s brother and sister, Willie and Lily Harper, while a detachment of military also attended.
Private George Harper is buried in Netley Military Cemetery, Southampton, Hampshire, England.
Private George Harper is commemorated locally on the WWI Roll of Honour in St John's Church Fivemiletown, and also on Fivemiletown War Memorial.
The CWGC record Private Harper as the son of Martha J. Harper, of Corcreevy, Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone, and the late William Harper.
