William James Harper (1875 - 1921)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Birth 1.2 Marriage 1.3 Military Service Boer War 1.4 World War 1 Service 1.5 Medical Discharge 1.6 Family 1.7 1902 Death of Stepson 1.8 Identity change 1.9 Death 1.10 Obituary 1.11 Lost Soldier 1.12 Research Notes 2 Sources

Biography

<----Wikitree is a collaborative process - with contributions (particularly from family members and descendants) welcome and appreciated--->

Birth

William James Harper was born in Victoria, at Bolinda (Riddells Creek), and his birth registeredi n 1875. Parents named on the birth index as Samuel Gleghorn Harper (1837-1902) and Hanorah (Ryan) Harper (1844-1929).^[1]

Name Information: William James adopted the names of "Wilfred Eric" and Wilfred Ernest.

Marriage

William married Annie (Fraser) Harper in 1900 in Victoria. ^[2] Annie was a widow ten years older than him, with three living children at the time of their marriage. She had already lost two children as infants.

Military Service Boer War

William enlisted for a twelve month contract on February 14, 1901 with the 2nd Tullabardine Scottish Horse in Melbourne ^{[citation needed]}. (note: i have seen the handwritten document some years ago online but unable to source it currently - it may be in the military archives). Family stories speak of his enlisting as an Australian born Scotsman, with the endorsement of his father-in-law Charles Fraser (1834-1917)who was born and bredat Inverness in Scotland. Annie would have been pregnant with their first child George when he left.

Making horses ready for war in Australia

Military Service records state that he originally was posted to the Transvaal as a military barber, and later as a recruiting officer at Capetown. William had worked as a Barber for a time upon his return. Prior to his enlistment there is information that supports he was employed as an Assistant to a Justice of the Peace.

World War 1 Service

Lest We Forget.

Military Service number: 679, Enlistment name: Wilfred Ernest Harper William was placed in the 3rd Squadron of the 1st Remount Unit and sent to Egypt. The Remount Service included a high level of horsemanship and expertise;

Remount Service. The distinguished reputation of Australian horses in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns was in no small part due to the work of the remount units, which were responsible for their training. When the Light Horse left for Gallipoli in 1915, they left behind detachments to take care of the horses. To free these men to rejoin their regiments, two remount units were formed in September 1915, each of four squadrons. The maximum age for enlistment was set at 50, and the units contained a high proportion of Boer War veterans and expert horsemen.

1st Remount passing through Cairo

By the time they arrived in Egypt however, the evacuation of Gallipoli was imminent. Accordingly, at the end of March 1916 the units were reduced by half, each contributing two squadrons to a single remount unit. Later in the year, the unit was further reduced to two squadrons, and became the Remount Depot. Although based in Egypt, in late 1917 the depot delivered remounts to the Palestine front by driving them across the Sinai Overlanders-style in order to save scarce rail transport, and so is credited with participation in the Palestine campaign. 1st Remount Unit (Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania)

Formed Melbourne 21 September 1915. Departed Melbourne Orsova 12 November 1915. Consolidated with 2nd Remount Unit 1 April 1916. Redesignated Remount Depot 2 October 1916 Egypt

Medical Discharge

William was given a medical discharge after 264 days in the Middle East after contracting mumps.

Family

November 1902 Birth of first biological child George Eric.

1902 Death of Stepson

20 December, 1902, William/Wilfred took his stepson Leslie James Smith fishing at Riddells Creek. Little is know except that Leslie (aged 10) drowned. Reported in the paper: DROWNED WHILE FISHING - THE FISH SECURELY HOOKED.

RIDDELL'S CREEK, Thursday. A sad occurrence took place here this afternoon about 4 o'clock, when the stepson of Mr. W. Harper, a boy of 11 years, named Leslie James Smith, was drowned in the creek. The little fellow was fishing, and had caught an eel, when he by some means fell into the creek. When found by his stepfather the fish was still attached to the line, and the line twisted around the boy's wrists. Every effort was made to restore life, but was to no avail."^[3]

1903 - William and Annie were listed on the Electoral Roll at Riddells Creek. Williams listing shows that he had adopted the name "Ernest" as his middle name.

April 1905 birth of second child Ira Harper

1906 Wife Desertion

20 Feb 1907 - CURIOUS DOUBLE CHARGE

Detective Hawkins yesterday arrested a man named William E. Harper, charging him with having deserted his wife at Rid-dell's Creek, on the 11th June, 1906, and also with the theft of a pair of hair clippers on 17th March, 1906.^[4]

20 Feb 1907 -REMANDED TO GISBORNE,

In the City Court today a middle-aged man, of respectable appearance, named William E Harper, was charged with deserting his wife at Riddell's Creek. The accused was also charged with stealing a pair or hair clippers .valued at L2, the property of Frederick Prime at Riddell's .Creek, on or about the16th of March 1906. Mr A. R. Crouch appeared for the accused, who denied both charges. Detective T. Hawkins stated that he arrested the Accused yesterday afternoon in Bourke street, on warrant. He admitted that he was the person named in the warrant. A remand to the Gisborne Court on the 28th last, was required. Mr Crouch said that his client had a complete answer to the charges. He had been In Tasmania, and had sent a letter to his wife asking her to meet him in Melbourne, so that he could arrange to take back a child with him. He (Mr Crouch) asked that the accused should be allowed light bail. The accused was remanded to the Gisborne Court on the 28th last. Bail was fixed at one surety of L23, ' ^[5]

1907 "Marries" Rachel May (Johnston) Harper (1890-1964). This information is gained from the death certificate of Rachel who states she married William when she was 17 years old (she was born in 1890). There is no known marriage registration. She was fifteen years younger than William and their first child was born in 1912 - when she was 22 years old.

1908 - William James/William Ernest released from Jail. Annie Maria (as was customary of the day) sued for child maintenance. William was found guilty and sentenced to jail at Pentridge Prison. He was released January 1908. ^[6] Record Image: [1](For those that are not aware - in Australia there was very little support for women to raise their children as single mothers, and men that abandoned their families would be incarcerated .. and then released from prison daily to work and earn money that was then taken from them (at least some of it ) and redirected toward raising their children). ^[7] Legislation online: [2]

Identity change

By WWI Wilfred had long left Annie Maria and adopted a new name "Wilfred Eric/Wilfred Ernest". He entered the military noting RAchel (Johnston) Harper as his next of kin. ^[8]

Not only did William/Wilfred change his name, he also changed his age over the course of his life when adopting his new name. Both the military and prison records provide a physical description of William/Wilfred: The enlistment form for Wilfred Ernest states his height at 5ft 6 1/4 inches with grey eyes. The prison record for William E Harper states his height at 5ft 6 1/2 inches with grey eyes. Note: It is believed with some family members, that William knew a person by the name of Wilfred Eric Harper who died and William adopted his name and personal details. I am unaware if there is any evidence to support this belief.

Death

William/Wilfred died in 1921 from 'carinoma of the stomach" (stomach cancer). His death is registered as Wilfred Harper, and his parents are listed as Samuel and Norah Harper, and his age "52" (where he was actually 46). ^[9]

Obituary

'ON Sunday night Mr Wilfred Ernest Harper, aged forty eight years of Red Cliffes died in the Mildura Hospital after a long illness". ^[10]

Annie Maria published her own obituary to William stating she was his wife, and that he was father of her children, and correcting the names: HARPER. — On tbe 4th Dec 1921 at Mildura, William James (not Wilfred Eric), father of George Eric and Ira Charles Norman. — Inserted by his wife, 59 Buckley Street, Footscray.^[11]

William James aka Wilfred is buried at Nichol point cemetery in Mildura. ^[12]

Lost Soldier

Harper Headstone RSL Tribute William was buried in an unmarked grave for nearly a century. The RSL (Returned Servicemans League) celebrated his service by placing a headstone to mark his grave and honour his contributions in the Boer War and World War I. Perhaps the name changes and so forth account for his state of being 'missed' for so many years.. He lead a remarkable life.

Research Notes

There has been a number of issues for famly researchers because of the assumed name of William James to Wilfred Eric/ Wilfred Ernest. New researchers may question the identifies but this is an agreed conclusion to the 'mystery of William/Wilfred' by descendants from both families, who hold the 'stories and memories of the families'. We can't know the motivation but there is enough articles and newspaper reports to suggest that when in the Boer War, when William returned he took some barber clippers with him and he set up his own business as a barber (at some point). He was charged with theft at the same time as he was charged with desertion of his first wife Annia Maria. This may be why he enlisted for World War I under an assumed name or he could have been attempting to evade debts or child support. it is known that Annie Maria was aware of the name change, because there is an electoral roll which has a variation name for when they first married and were living with his parents. When William passed away - Annie put an obituary in for him and stated clearly 'not Wilfred Eric" but her husband William James. The children from neither relationship were unaware of the history. Annies children thought he had abandoned them all and didn't know they had extended family, Rachels children didn't realise that their father was married to another woman and that their parents were unwed. This author has asked the process of changing the military records to reflect the correct name and has been advised it 'can't be done'. From a position of hindsight - William created a new life for himself as Wilfred, so in fairness.. that is no doubt the name he wished to be known by.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria BDM Births: 7335 / 1875
2. ↑ Australia BDM Marriages: 1747 /1900
3. ↑ DROWNED WHILE FISHING. (1902, December 20). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 17. Retrieved December 13, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9071959
4. ↑ CURIOUS DOUBLE CHARGE. (1907, February 20). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 4. Retrieved December 13, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10617152
5. ↑ REMANDED TO GISBORNE. (1907, February 20). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved December 13, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242566548
6. ↑ William E. Harper Sentenced to Pentridge Gaol - Non payment of maintenance. 24 Jan 1908 to 11 Jul 1908. Released on Special Authority
7. ↑ Deserted Wives and Childrens Act 1901 (NSW)
8. ↑ Australia, WWI Service Records, 1914-1920 (Ancestry.com);
9. ↑ Death Record: 15181 / 1921 BDM, Victoria
   (Name: Wilfred Eric HARPER); (Place: MILDURA, VIC); (Mothers Name: HARPER, Norah RYAN); (Fathers Name: HARPER, Samuel).
10. ↑ OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS (1921, December 6). Sunraysia Daily (Mildura, Vic. : 1920 - 1926), p. 2. Retrieved December 13, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article258523988
11. ↑ Family Notices (1924, February 19). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204080537
12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 13 December 2020), memorial page for Wilfred Harper (unknown–6 Dec 1921), Find A Grave: Memorial #211555418, citing Nichols Point Cemetery, Nichols Point, Mildura Rural City, Victoria, Australia ; Maintained by woowoo (contributor 49949980) .

• Department of Justice, Victoria. Registry of Birth Deaths and Marriages [BDM] online database: https://my.rio.bdm.vic.gov.au/efamily-history/5fcf5bda10c0341bf1059f8a