Harper, Laura Jean (Hanham)

Rank: Nursing Sister
Branch: Canadian Army Medical Corps

Laura was born in Welland, Ontario on August 3, 1889. She came to western Canada before World War I began. At the start of the war, Laura was working at the army hospital in Sarcee Camp. It was here that she met Harry Harper. Some time after Harry shipped out, Laura was also called for overseas duty (see p. 45 of her service file for the photograph). She served at the No. 12 Canadian General Hospital at Bramshott. They married in Bramshott, England ca. November 1918. Laura was discharged on December 27, 1918. After the war, the Harpers came back to Alberta. Harry filed on a quarter at NE 29-79-13-W6 on Laura’s behalf, though this homestead was canceled. Laura gave birth to their first child in Edmonton in April of 1919; two months later she joined Harry in Spirit River. After Harry died in 1939, Laura decided to go back east. She died in Toronto in 1978, and was buried in the Spirit River cemetery.

Sources: Chepi Sepe p. 468

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