Allegiance United Kingdom Name John Harper Rank Corporal Battles/wars World War II Service/branch British Army | Service number 4751678 Battles and wars World War II Years of service 1939 - 1944 Role Armed force officer Awards Victoria Cross | |
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Born 6 August 1916
Hatfield, Doncaster, South Yorkshire ( 1916-08-06 ) Buried at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery (51°6′44.17″N 5°16′6.47″E / 51.1122694°N 5.2684639°E / 51.1122694; 5.2684639) Unit York and Lancaster Regiment Died September 29, 1944, Antwerp, Belgium Similar People George Grogan, Robert Henry Cain, Raphael Zengel, Walter Norris Congreve, James Carne | ||
John William Harper VC (6 August 1916 – 29 September 1944) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Contents
Birth
John William Harper was born in Hatfield, Doncaster, South Yorkshire on 6 August 1916 to George Ernest Harper and his wife, Florence Parkin.
Details
Harper was 28 years old, and a corporal in the 4th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 29 September 1944 during an assault on the Depot de Mendicite, Merksplas, Belgium, Corporal Harper led his section across 300 yards of completely exposed ground, with utter disregard for the hail of mortar bombs and small arms fire from the enemy. He was killed in the action, but the subsequent capture of the position was largely due to his self-sacrifice.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is held at The York & Lancaster Regiment Museum in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England.
Memorials
His remains now lie at the War Cemetery at Leopoldsburg, near Limburg, Belgium, Plot No.5, Row B, Grave No.15.51°6′44.17″N 5°16′6.47″E
His name is inscribed on the Hatfield Cemetery War Memorial.