With ANZAC Day 2016 approaching I decided to create a page with a list of the Harper, Trew and Bown families who enlisted during WWI and WWII. Where available I’ve included a link to their military documents in the National Archives of Australia collection.
First World War
HARPER George Eric : Service Number – 68695 : Place of Birth – Riddells Creek VIC : Place of Enlistment – Footscray VIC : Next of Kin – (Mother) HARPER Annie
Whilst George declared he was 18 in August 1917 when he enlisted, he was actually only 15 years of age. He was discharged for being under the minimum age. When his mother received the notification that he had enlisted her reply said “I consented to my son enlisting by giving his proper age which I believe he did not do he will be 16 years old 19 November 1917.”
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4420031
HARPER Francis Clement : Service Number – 251 : Place of Birth – Riddell VIC : Place of Enlistment – Melbourne VIC : Next of Kin – (Wife) HARPER Rose
Frances joined as a member of the veterinary division at 24 years of age. He spent almost 3 years in various locations in Egypt and France and was, for a time, detached from his unit (4th Mobile Veterinary Section) for duty with the 4th Division Artillery.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4420055
HARPER Joseph Patrick : Service Number – 1299 : Place of Birth – Riddell VIC : Place of Enlistment – Melbourne VIC : Next of Kin – (Wife) HARPER Mabel Rose.
Joseph joined at 35 years of age and was assigned to the Army Veterinary Corp. He spent around 2 years in Egypt at Moascar, Abbassia and Boulac and contracted Malaria during his time abroad.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4420147
HARPER Wilfred Ernest : Service Number – 679 : Place of Birth – Riddle’s Creek VIC : Place of Enlistment – Adelaide SA : Next of Kin – (Wife) HARPER May.
Wilfred joined the 3rd Squadron 1st Remount Unit. He used a false name (his real name was William James Harper) stated his age as 46 though he was actually 40 at the time. He contracted mumps around 4 months into his 7 months in Egypt and, after spending time at Cairo Auxiliary Hospital, was returned home in 1916 when his unit was disbanded.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4420282
KIA – HARPER Christopher Ernest : Service Number – 1658/4509 : Place of Birth – Riddells Creek VIC : Place of Enlistment – Melbourne VIC : Next of Kin – (Mother) HARPER Honora Mrs.
Christopher was 22 years of age when he joined the 2nd Rfcts. 51st Battalion on November 15 1915. On September 5 1916 the commanding officer of the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion reported that Christopher had been killed in action two days earlier on Sep 3 1916. One of his service documents has the entry:
“CORRGENDA: KILLED IN ACTION and buried at R.34.d.o.3. Sheet 57.d.S.E by 1st Canadian Pioneer Battn. Grave marked with a wooden stake.”
Christopher’s name is included on the Villers-Bretonneux war memorial.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4932987
TREW Samuel : Service Number – 4011 : Place of Birth – Warracknabeal VIC : Place of Enlistment – Broadmeadows VIC : Next of Kin – (Wife) TREW Rosina.
Samuel was 29 years of age when he enlisted. After two transfers to Egypt over a period of 16 months, he was discharged on medical grounds due to a pre-existing heart condition.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8394183
TREW Tom : Service Number – 1840 1550 : Place of Birth – Warracknabeal VIC : Place of Enlistment – Balmoral VIC : Next of Kin – (Wife) TREW A M.
Tom was 22 years of age when he enlisted. Just 3 months after arriving in Egypt he was admitted to hospital with shell shock. He then suffered loss of memory and fits and was returned to Australia.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8394186
KIA – TREW William : Service Number – 1920 : Place of Birth – Warracknabeal VIC : Place of Enlistment – Horsham VIC : Next of Kin – (Father) TREW George Mother Christine – Wilson St Horsham & Lochinvar NSW
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8394188
Buried Trois Arbres Mil. Cam Steenwerck plot 1 row D or plot 1 Row O Grave 13
Second World War
HARPER STANISLAUS JAMES : Service Number – VX145826 : Date of birth – 10 Oct 1914 : Place of birth – STH YARRA VIC : Place of enlistment – KAPOOKA NSW : Next of Kin – HARPER EILEEN
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6088744
HARPER GEORGE ERIC : Service Number – VX50034 : Date of birth – 19 Nov 1904 : Place of birth – RIDDELL VIC : Place of enlistment – ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin – HARPER VIOLET
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6126997
HARPER PAUL JOSEPH JOHN : Service Number – VX40587 : Date of birth – 29 Jan 1902 : Place of birth – RIDDLE VIC : Place of enlistment – CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin – MASIEY MARY (sister) Blackburn Rd Doncaster East Vic
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6127592
HARPER STANLEY FRANCIS : Service Number – VX1458 : Date of birth – 14 Jan 1912 : Place of birth – OUYEN VIC : Place of enlistment – MELBOURNE VIC : Next of Kin – HARPER MABLE
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6229399
HARPER LESLIE REX JOSEPH : Service Number – VX135772 : Date of birth – 18 May 1919 : Place of birth – WENTWORTH NSW : Place of enlistment – BRISBANE QLD : Next of Kin – HARPER J
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5706895
Harper, Alan Verdun; Army Number – 326977; Date of birth – 14 March 1916
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9285193
HARTSHORN ALAN VINCENT : Service Number – V400039 : Date of birth – 14 Mar 1916 : Place of birth – Unknown : Place of enlistment – BALLARAT : Next of Kin – HARPER RACHEL
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6635421
Harper, Stanislaus James; VP3660
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=12707424
TREW HERBERT WILLIAM GEORGE : Service Number – VX32620 : Date of birth – 19 Jul 1901 : Place of birth – WARRACKNABEAL VIC : Place of enlistment – ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin – TREW M
TREW EDWARD : Service Number – V6486 : Date of birth – 15 Apr 1897 : Place of birth – WARRACKNABEAL VIC : Place of enlistment – ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin – TREW ELLEN – 114 Anderson St Warracknabeal Vic
Edward served in both world wars.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6293068
TREW ROBERT SAMUEL : Service Number – V225608 : Date of birth – 15 Feb 1900 : Place of birth – WARRACKNABEAL VIC : Place of enlistment – WARRACKNABEAL VIC : Next of Kin – TREW M