Source: Per Buck reg. no. 124359 service record.
Family Search: When Company Sergeant Major James Harper was born on 9 April 1891, in Plymouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom, his father, Edward Harper, was 47 and his mother, Elisabeth Dear, was 42. He married Winnifred Lilian Connell on 19 September 1925, in Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He immigrated to Quebec, Quebec, Canada in 1913 and lived in Plymstock, Devon, England, United Kingdom in 1901. He registered for military service in 1914. In 1926, his occupation is listed as police officer in Chatham, Kent, Ontario, Canada. He died on 14 March 1967, in Chatham, Kent, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 75, and was buried in Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada.
This man enlisted with the 18th Battalion on 28 October 1914, at Chatham, Ontario. He was a labourer and had no prior military experience. He was assigned to “A” Company.
He went overseas in April 1915 and trained in England at West Sandling Camp until the 18th Battalion went “overseas” to France and Belgium on 15 September 1915.
he served with the 18th Battalion and was appointed as Lance-Corporal on 8 July 1915 and when overseas was appointed as an Acting Corporal on 16 June 1916. He held this appointment until he reverted to Lance-Corporal on 1 August 1916.
He suffered a GSW (severe) to his left arm on 15 September 1916 at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and was sent to England for treatment and recovery. He returned to the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion 15 June 1917 and was appointed as an Acting Sergeant on 25 June 1917.
He then was transferred back to the 18th Battalion on 20 August 1917 and was promoted to Sergeant on 22 November 1917.
He was assigned to The Guards Division for 1 month’s duty effective 26 July 1917.
He was appointed acting Company Sergeant Major in the field on 31 August 1918 and this appointment was made permanent. Around this time he was gazetted a Military Medal for bravery in the field.
He was granted 14 days leave on 17 January 1919 and returned from that leave on 14 February 1919.
He, along with the 18th Battalion, returned to England on 4 April 1919 and then proceeded overseas back to Canada.
Sergeant Harper was granted 14 days leave to the United Kingdom on 6 February 1918.
He was discharged due to demobilization on 24 May 1919 at London, Ontario.
Retired inspector dies at 75
CHATHAM—Retired Chatham Department Inspector James Harper, 75, of 24 Arnold St., died in Public General Hospital on Thursday after a brief illness.
Mr. Harper, a holder of the Military Medal, was “highly respected as a citizen and was a dedicated officer, much relied upon for his knowledge and experience,” said Deputy-Police Chief William Murdock this morning.
Mr. Harper was born in Plymouth, Eng., and came to Canada in 1913. He joined the police department 13 years later and remained with the department until his retirement as inspector in June, 1959.
A veteran of the Canadian Army, he went overseas in the First World War with the 18th Battalion.
A member of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church he was a former people’s warden, a member of the Parthenon Lodge No. 267, A. F. and A. M., and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 431.
He is survived by his wife, the former Winifred L. Connell, of Chatham, a son, James B. Harper, of Don Mills, Ont.
Funeral from the John G. Steven Funeral Home, 245 Wellington St. W., Friday, conducted by Rev. J. A. F. Blackwell at 2 p.m. in the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Cremation, Woodmere Crematorium, Detroit. Burial will be in Plymouth, England.
The Parthenon Lodge 267 will hold a memorial service at the funeral home Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
The Windsor Star. 15 March 1967
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 