Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lance-Sergeant J. H. Harper, Royal Engineers, who was killed in action at de Panne during the retreat to Dunkirk, 31 May 1940

1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. M. M. Harper, Crantock, 3 Leslie Road, Streetly, Nr. B’ham’, extremely fine (2) £70-90

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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John Hugh Harper (erroneously listed on the CWGC Roll as Harpur) was born in Derby and attested for the Royal Engineers on 1 September 1939. He served during the Second World War as a Lance-Sergeant with 225 Field Company, Royal Engineers, and was killed in action on 31 May - 1 June 1940 during the retreat to Dunkirk.

Harper was aged 21 at the time of his death. He is buried in de Panne Communal Cemetery, Belgium. His medals were sent to his mother Maud Mary Harper.

De Panne village was the site of the final General Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940, and there was a Casualty Clearing Station on the beach, which was also an embarkation beach for the evacuation. From 27 May to 1 June 1940, the Germans strove to prevent the embarkation of the troops by incessant bombing, machine-gunning and shelling. The first German troops reached the village at 2:00 p.m. on 31 May, and after heavy fighting, the commune was completely occupied by the enemy by 9:00 a.m. on 1 June. Given the date of Harper’s death, and the location of his grave, it is likely that he was involved in the final rearguard action at de Panne.