Private Robert Gamble Harper
Robert Gamble Harper was born on 12 February 1892 in Brockstown, Castlefin, County Donegal, the second of five children of farmer William Harper and his wife Isabella (née Gamble). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Carnowen, Castlefin, with his parents and his three surviving siblings and working on the family farm.
Harper enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 25 and 27 November 1915 (No.1980). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France in 1916 or the first half of 1917, where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st or 2nd North Irish Horse Regiments.
In August-September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Harper, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Harper was issued regimental number 41467.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917, and perhaps also during the retreat from St Quentin and the fighting around Mount Kemmel in March and April 1918.
Harper was wounded in the right thigh during the Advance to Victory offensive, perhaps on 4 September in the attack near Wulverghem. He was discharged (or demobilised) on 11 June 1919 and awarded a pension, his level of disability from the wound assessed at 20 per cent (January 1920).