Donald McKay Harper

Submitted by Mary Steenson on Wed, 20/07/2016 - 17:08

First Name:

Donald

Middle Name:

McKay

Last Name:

Harper

Mother's Name:

Mary Harper nee Bird

Father's Name:

Charles N Harper

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, May 4, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lance Corporal

Unit:

13th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Cessnock, N.S.W.

Details:

Donald McKay Harper (Service No 2251) was born in March 1875 in Waratah, NSW, to Charles ans Mary Harper.

Donald lived in Helensburgh, N.S.W. prior to his marriage, which was announced in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on 31st July 1915. Donald was a police constable. He married Lydfyl Evans at Manly in 2nd June 1915 and the couple George St, Waterloo.

At enlistment, Donald was 6ft 3inches tall. He had a 'fresh' complexion, brown eyes and grey hair. His religion was Presbyterian. He enlisted at Liverpool NSW, on 4th May 1915 aged 40years 2mths. He was attached to 6th Reinforcements 13th Battalion with the rank of Corporal.

He embarked from Sydney on 16th June 1915 on HMAT A62 Wandilla.

He reverted to Private on 2nd August 1915.

On 7th August 1915 Donald was wounded with a bayonet wound to his arm during the Suvla landing at Gallipoli. He was sent to 1st Australian Station Hospital on Lemnos Island on 9th August 1915. After 13 days of treatment he was transferred to No 24 Casualty Clearing Station at Mudros East on 21st August 1915 and then discharged on 22nd August 1915.

On 29th August 1915 a letter was sent notifying Donald’s wife of his wounds.

Donald was transferred from 13th Battalion to Military Police at Heliopolis. He marched in from Heliopolis to Tel el Kebir.

On 23rd April 1916 Donald was promoted to Lance Corporal. He was transferred to the Military Police at Helcopolis on and then was taken on strength at Police Headquarters on 20th May 1916.

Donald joined the Mounted Military Police on 21st June 1916.

On 24th June 1916 while carrying out shore work on Gallipoli, Donald strained his shoulder. He was admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbassia. On 3rd July 1916 Donald’s wife was informed he was in hospital suffering from arthritis.

Donald had also been having problems with his hearing, which was improving, but it was now found he had loose bones in his left shoulder joint, and this would take 3 months to heal. Due to both these health issues, it was recommended that he return to Australia.

He embarked by Clan McGilvray from Suez. He disembarked Sydney on 17th August 1916 and was discharged on 15th September 1916.

Donald died in 1946 at Cessnock.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, HARPER D MCK

Births, Deaths, Marriages, NSW

SMH