John William Harper

Corporal John William Harper VC (6 August 1916 – 29 September 1944) was a British Army soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

John William Harper was born in Hatfield, Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire on 6 August 1916 to George Ernest Harper and his wife, Florence Parkin.

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.

"War Office, 2nd January, 1943. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to: —

No. 4751678 Corporal John William Harper, The York and Lancaster Regiment (Doncaster).

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.

In North-West Europe, on 29th September, 1944, the Hallamshire Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment attacked the Depot de Mendicite, a natural defensive position surrounded by an earthen wall, and then a dyke, strongly held by the enemy.

Corporal Harper was commanding.

the leading section in the assault.

The enemy were well dug in and had a perfect field of fire across 300 yards of completely flat and exposed country.

With superb disregard for the hail of mortar bombs and small arms fire which the enemy brought to bear on this open ground, Corporal Harper led his section straight up to the wall and killed or captured the enemy holding the near side.

During this operation the platoon commander was seriously wounded and Corporal Harper took over control of the platoon.

As the enemy on the far side of the wall were now throwing grenades over the top, Corporal Harper climbed over the wall alone, throwing grenades, and in the face of heavy, close range small arms fire, personally routed the Germans directly opposing him.

He took four prisoners and shot several of the remainder of the enemy as they fled.

Still completely ignoring the heavy spandau and mortar fire, which was sweeping the

area, once again he crossed the wall alone to find out whether it was possible for his platoon to wade the dyke which lay

beyond.

He found the dyke too deep and

wide to cross, and once again he came back

over the wall and received orders to try and

establish his platoon on the enemy side of it.

For the third time he climbed over alone,

found some empty German weapon pits, and

providing the covering fire urged and

encouraged his section to scale the wall and

dash for cover.

By this action he was able

to bring down sufficient covering fire *to

enable the rest of the company to cross the

open ground and surmount the wall for the

loss of only one man.

Corporal Harper then left his platoon in charge of his senior section commander and

walked alone along the banks of the dyke,

in the face of heavy spandau fire, to find a crossing place.

Eventually he made contact

with the battalion attacking on his right, and

found that they had located a ford.

Back

he came across the open ground, and, whilst