Theophilus Norman Harper

A Private with the 1/4th Battalion, Theophilus died on 1st of November 1916 at the age of 20. 

Theophilus was born at Lowestoft in 1896, a son of Arthur and Hannah Harper. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 16 January 1896, and his family lived at 54 Whapload Road and this was still their home in 1901. By 1915 his family lived at 46 Whapload Road, and later at 11 Anguish Street, Lowestoft.

Theophilus enlisted in the Army at Ipswich. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 3078. In 1916 he went to France to join the 1/4th Battalion. Theophilus was wounded and his name appears in the War Office Daily List dated 3 June 1916. Once recovered he continued to serve with the 1/4th Battalion. 

In late October 1916 the 1/4th Battalion moved into trenches east of Les Boeufs. On 1 November 1916 a party of A Company attacked the enemy position on the right of their front line, in conjunction with an attack made by their Brigade. An enemy machine-gun, that was not dealt with during the preliminary bombardment, caused several casualties and the party had to fall back.

One officer and five men, including Theophilus, were killed, and twelve men were wounded. 

Theophilus’ brother Walter served in the Royal Naval Reserve and died in 1917.