10th Battalion, Tank Corps.

Awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 24 September 1918.

Harper was a native of Burnley, Lancashire.

The Burnley Express reported: - TANK OFFICERS M.C. Former Education Committee Official. Lieutenant Thomas Harper, Tank Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in command of his tank during a raid has, as previously announced, been awarded the Military Cross. Lieutenant T. Harper was recently wounded for a third time, and is still at Manchester suffering from a gunshot injury in the face received on the 8 August. He formerly resided at 16, Raglan Road, Burnley, and was on the staff of the Burnley Education Department. At Wednesday's meeting of the Burnley Education Committee the officers success was referred to, and the chairman (Alderman E. Keighley, JP.) moved a vote of congratulation to the officer for the gallant deed which had earned him his decoration. He hoped he would get through the war safely. Alderman Whitehead, in seconding, said they were all pleased one of their clerks had received the coverted decoration. It reflected credit on the Town Hall staff that among men not inured to outdoor hardships they should find such high courage and devotion to duty. The resolution was heartily carried. The citation for his Military Cross published in the London Gazette reads: - "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in charge of his Tank during a raid. Though his infantry escort was held up at the start, he reached his most distant objective, and inflicted considerable casualties on the enemy. On the way back in order to gain an identification , he drove his Tank to an enemy dugout, and collected a valise and a greatcoat. He did fine service."