war. Harper and his colleague Aylmer Haldane (VI Corps) are described by Travers as "seasoned and reliable commanders". Nonetheless they suffered command problems in the early stages of the March retreat, particularly on 26 March when the Germans were rumoured to be breaking through at Hebuterne. In September 1918, during the period after the Battle of Albert whilst Third Army was advancing towards the Hindenburg Line, Haldane regularly vented in his diary about Harper's supposed shortcomings. At one point Haldane lobbied Byng (GOC Third Army) to urge Harper to make quicker progress, and when Byng pointed out that IV Corps were making progress recorded "I should "progress" by sending Harper to the rear". Haldane was concerned that Third Army orders gave Harper (on Haldane's right, i.e. southern flank) "an excuse for not coming forward at the same time as my Corps" (22 September). Haldane appealed to Byng, who refused to overrule Harper. Haldane attributed this to their lack of experience of the NorthWest Frontier. Byng's decision was wrong and Haldane's advance was hampered by Harper's failure to seize the high ground. Postwar After the War, in 1919, Harper became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Command. On 15 December 1922 Harper was driving from Sherborne to Bradford Abbas when his car skidded and overturned, he died of a fractured skull and his wife was injured. Honours and awards 27 September 1901 - Captain (now Major) George Montague Harper is appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in recognition for services during operations in South Africa. 18 February 1915 - Colonel (Temporary Brigadier-General) George Montague Harper DSO is appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in recognition of the meritorious service during the war. 1 January 1918 - Major-General George Montague Harper CB DSO is promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath for valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in the field. Harper also was awarded foreign decorations; Legion of Honour, French Croix de Guerre, Belgian Croix de Guerre, Grand Cross of the Belgian Order of Leopold and the Serbian White Eagle. Family He married Ella Constance Jackson in 1893. References Sources Harper External links |- |- 1865 births 1922 deaths Burials in Wiltshire Royal Engineers officers British Army personnel of the Second Boer War British Army generals of World War I Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Companions of the Distinguished