Pte 22702 James Laurence Harper

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• Died Sunday 7th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Anfield Cem Liverpool
  Panel Ref: XIII.C.983

James Laurence was born at 22 Eastlake Street, Everton on 30th March 1895 the son of James Harper and his wife Mary Ellen (nee Helsby) both natives of Liverpool. They were married in 1890 at Emmanuel Church, Everton. James Harper senior was a dock porter.

James was baptised at St Chrysostom's Church in Everton on 09th June 1895.

He had two sisters; Isabella was born in 1893 but died in 1894 and Helena was born in 1896.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 70 Handfield Street. His father, James, is a 39 year old dock porter, whilst his mother Mary E. is 38 years of age. James is 6 and Helena is 5.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 58 Handfield Street, this was still the family home after the war. James, now aged 16 is working for a greengrocer, Helena is 14 and is a scholar. 

He enlisted in Liverpool on 09th November 1914 joining the 20^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 22702. He gave his age 19 years and 9mths, his occupation as a butcher, he was described as being 5' 8" tall, weight 126 lbs, chest 36", had a fresh complexion, with dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. His next of kinn was his father James Harper.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He took part in the liberation of Montauban, the fighting at Trones Wood and the calamitous attack at Guillemont in July 1916. He was then back in action on 12th October 1916. During this fighting he was buried and had to be treated for shell shock before rejoining his unit on 24th October 1916.

He was reported wounded with Shell Shock in the Liverpool Daily Post on 22nd November 1916.

In January 1917 he was granted ten days leave to the U.K. After he returned to the front he spent ten days on a Trench Mortar Course in May 1917.

On 21st July 1917 he was admitted to 97 Field Ambulance suffering from pleurisy. He was eventually returned to the UK aboard the Hospital ship St. George on 29th July 1917. He was treated at East Leeds War Hospital (Killingbeck). He sadly suffered a series of infections, never recovered his strength and died of heart failure due to Pleurisy and Tuberculosis on 07th April 1918.  

James now rests at Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool. He was buried on 12th April 1918. His headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR" 

In December 1914, Liverpool became one of the 21 Auxiliary Patrol Bases and in February 1915, the base of the 10th Cruiser Squadron. During the Second World War, Liverpool was headquarters of Western Approaches Command and a manning depot for officers and men of the Merchant Navy who agreed to serve with the Royal Navy for the duration of the war.

Liverpool (Anfield) Cemetery contains burials of both wars. The majority are in two war graves plots in Section 5, with Screen Walls bearing the names of those buried there. The rest of the war burials are scattered throughout the cemetery.

There are 453 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. Included in this total are 17 casualties who are commemorated by name on the Screen Wall as their graves in Bootle (St Mary) Churchyard and Liverpool (St James) Cemetery could no longer be maintained. Second World War burials number 459 including 2 unidentified British soldiers. There is also another Screen Wall memorial to those whose burials are not marked by headstones. There are also 67 war graves of other nationalities, the majority of them Dutch and Norwegian Merchant seamen, and there are 9 non war service burials here.

 His personal belongings were sent to his father. These are recorded as:- bag containing note paper and khaki handkerchiefs, watch, 12 penny stamps, 2 wallets with correspondence, stylo pen, 3 pencils, cigarette case, lanyard, bag containing cigarettes and tobacco, 2 pipes, mirror, 3 devotional books, correspondence.

Pension was awarded to his mother Mary Ellen.

We currently have no further information on James Laurence Harper. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.