FIJI GUERILLAS Harper, Paul Moore

[John Robertson]

• SURNAME

Harper ​

• FORENAME

Paul Moore ​

• UNIT

New Zealand Commandos ​

• RANK

Lieutenant ​

• NUMBER

48575 ​

• DATE OF DEATH

3rd August 1943 ​

• AGE

29 ​

• GRAVESITE

Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery,New Caledonia 4.8 ​

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

born 18.5.1914 New Zealand​

son of Godfrey and Gladys (nee Blunden) Harper​

husband of Mary Stewart Harper,Christchurch,Canterbury,New Zealand​

shepherd in civilian life​

former 37 Bn​

award Mention in Despatches​

KIA New Georgia​

Ashburton War Memorial ​

London Gazette 36382, 15th February 1944, Page 828​

​

The same day Lieutenant Paul Harper, who had been attached to several American units, was killed while attempting to relieve a beleaguered American detachment on the Bairoko trail. The detachment was in desperate need of water, rations, and ammunition, and Paul volunteered to lead a supply party to the detachment. On the way the party was ambushed by Japanese, but Paul led his patrol against the enemy, killing them and capturing their machine-gun. The party continued, carrying the enemy weapon. As they reached the detachment they were mistaken for a Japanese force, and the detachment opened fire. Paul Harper and one of the Americans was unfortunately killed before the party could yell out its identity.

During his attachment to 148 Regiment, Paul Harper had carried out a variety of duties in addition to patrolling. For several days he assisted an American battalion commander in operating his unit because many American officers had become casualties. His death was as much a blow to the Americans as it was to the New Zealanders.

Source : https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2IP-Comm-t1-body1-d16.html#name-031372-mention