Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Private Harper was serving with the 2/5^th Norfolk Regiment when he passed through Peterborough East Station on 14 April 1917.  He wrote in the visitors’ book “Having lost my connection at Peterboro’, I put up at the Soldiers & Sailors Home, where I spent several hours of rest and enjoyment, for which I am deeply grateful.”   He was stationed at Hillsborough Barracks in Sheffield.

A service record for Private Harper was located but it is extremely difficult to read.  However, we are fairly certain that he is Charles Lewis Harper who was born on 13 February 1873 in Earlham, Norfolk to parents Jonathan, a labourer, and Sarah.  In 1881 Charles (7) is living in Colney, Norfolk with his parents John (40) and Sarah (36) and siblings William (14) agricultural labourer, Alice (12), Henry (10), Robert (5) and Ellen (3).  He is a boarder with Ellen Jarman in 1891 living in Earlham Road, Norwich and working as a gardener.  In 1895, Charles married Gertrude Alice Ward in Norwich.  In 1901, Charles (28), a brewer’s servant and Gertrude (23) are living at 16 Livingstone Street, Norwich with children Ellen M V (2) and Bertie W C (4).  They were living at 60 St Leonards Road, Thorpe Hamlet in 1911 and Charles is working as a ganger on sewage disposal.  Their children were Bertie (14) errand boy for printer, Ellen (12), Ada (8) and Cecil (1).  They went on to have three further children: Ivy M G (1912), Charles W (1914) and Reginald (1917).

Charles Lewis Harper, was serving with the 5^th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment Territorial Force when he signed an agreement for service outside UK in a national emergency at East Dereham on 23 September 1914.  According to the records Charles also served with the 1/6^th South Staffordshire Regiment and it indicates that he transferred to the Norfolk Regiment.  His pay office was Sheffield, which is where he was stationed when he came through Peterborough and his home address was Great Yarmouth.  Also on file is a letter dated 30 December 1918, advising that he had received a gunshot wound and had been admitted to hospital.   He was awarded the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

In 1939 Charles and Gertrude were living at The Bungalow, in Henstead Rural District, Norfolk with children Charles, a poultry tender for the Corporation and Reginald, a baker’s roundsman.  Charles was listed as a retired corporation labourer.

Charles died on 12 July 1949 at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.  His address was given as The Bungalow, Whitlingham Trowse, Newton, Norfolk.  Administration of his estate was given to Ivy May Clow, his daughter.

Could you be related to Charles?  Do get in touch if you can tell us more.