Harper, Henry
Private
No. 2306, Connaught Rangers, transferred to
No. 21119, 9th Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers)
Killed in action on Friday 19 April 1918
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 140 to 141)
Holywood and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Henry Harper lived in Holywood and he enlisted in Belfast. He served with the Connaught Rangers (No. 2306) before being transferred to the 9th Battalion Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) and he was killed in action on 19 April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.
In the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects his mother, Mary C. Harper, was his sole legatee.
In the 1911 census a Mary Catharine Harper (aged 42), a widow who was born in County Monaghan, was living at 11 High Street, Holywood. Living with her was her only son, Francis Hy Harper (aged 21) who was born in County Down. They were Roman Catholic and Francis was a shoemaker.
Private Henry Harper is commemorated on Holywood and District War Memorial (as H. Harpur).
Desk studies and public appeals to date have not confirmed a connection between these census details and the casualty who is commemorated on Holywood and District War Memorial.