Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Archibald George Harber -

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, May 11, 1917 Page 5

Driver Archie Harber, of the R.F.A., youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Harber, is lying seriously ill in hospital, his parents have been called to his bedside this week. Driver Harber had malaria in India, and after coming home suffered from a succession of colds, which have developed chest trouble.

Friday, May 25, 1917 Page 3

Death of a Young Soldier.
We regret to announce the death of Bomdr. Archie Harber, R.F.A., youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Harber, of Sydling Cottage. He recently contracted a severe cold which developed pulmonary trouble very rapidly. Bomdr. Harber had served in India, and came home just before Christmas. He was formerly in the employ of Pickford's at their Ventnor office, and was only 20 years of age. He was a particularly genial and much liked young man, and very popular with his associates. The greatest sympathy and condolence will be extended to the family in their sorrow. Mr. and Mrs. Harber have three other sons serving, Private Stanley Harber, of the Australian Imperial Force, Bandmaster C. Harber, R.N., and Pte. E. Harber, Royal Defence Corps. The body will be brought to Ventnor and the funeral will take place at the Cemetery on Monday.

Friday, June 1, 1917 Page 1

The funeral of Bombr. Archie Harber on Whit Monday afternoon was exceedingly impressive and largely attended. Practically the whole of the congregation that had assembled in St. Alban's Church joined in the procession to the Cemetery, where the last rites were conducted by the Rev. B.H. P. Smith in tones which were frequently broken with emotion. The deceased young soldier had been associated with St. Alban's practically all his life, having been server at the altar as a boy and afterwards a chorister.
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On this bright and beautiful Spring afternoon, with Nature bursting into full vigour, it seemed very sad to witness the closing scenes of such a young and promising life. Bombr. Harber was laid to rest in a grave near to that of his grandfather, who was for several years secretary of the Loyal Hambrough Lodge of Oddfellows, and who himself, as an old Volunteer, was given the first military funeral which took place at the Ventnor Cemetery.

Page 2

Funeral of Bombardier Archie Harber.
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On Whit Monday afternoon the funeral took place at Ventnor Cemetery of Bombr. Archie Harber, R.F.A., youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Harber, who as announced last week died in an English hospital on the previous Wednesday. The remains were brought to Ventnor and afterwards deposited in St. Alban's Church. On Sunday evening during his sermon, the Rev. B.H.P. Smith (Priest-in-Charge) referred in touching terms to the life of Bombr. Harber, to his association with the Church, and to his gentle nature and manly characteristics. On Monday a service was held in the Church prior to the burial, which was largely attended. Bombr. Harber, by his intimate associations with the Church, first as server and afterwards as one of the choristers was well-known to nearly all the congregation, who, together with his more intimate friends in the town, always entertained for him the highest esteem and regard. His quiet, unassuming and genial disposition made him a thorough favourite with those with whom he came into contact, and his early death has evoked profound sorrow and widespread sympathy and condolence with the family. Nearly all the congregation were in mourning, and the service was an exceedingly touching one. The hymns "Abide with me," and "Peace, Perfect Peace," were sung, and at the close, Mr. Alex Starke, the organist, played "The Dead March" in Saul. The coffin enveloped in the Union Jack, was then borne on a hand-bier from the Church to the Cemetery, members of the 2/9th Hants Regiment acting as bearers. The immediate family mourners and the large number of the congregation which followed made up a long procession, while in the vicinity of the Church and at the cemetery there were good numbers of people. In the district marks of mourning were general. At the graveside the closing ritual of the Burial Office was most feelingly read by the Rev. B.H.P. Smith, and there was hardly a dry eye when the coffin was deposited in the grave by the soldiers. The coffin was of polished elm, with brass furniture and bore the inscription: -
"ARCHIBALD GEORGE HARBER,
Died May 23, 1917.
Aged 21 years."
The local undertaker was Mr. G.H.R. Ingram.
The mourners were Mr. and Mrs. C. Harber (father and mother), Pte. Ernest Harber (brother), Nurse Nettie Harber, Mrs. Fee, Miss Nora Harber, Mrs. E.W. Smith, Misses K., M., and D. Harber (sisters), Mr. E.W. Smith (brother-in-law), Miss Reed, and Bombr. R. Richards. Sergt.-Major Hawkins, formerly local instructor to the Howitzers, with whose battery Bombr. Harber went to India, was granted leave to attend the funeral. There were a large number of wreaths and beautiful flowers, the following being a list, with the inscriptions: - (list of wreaths not transcribed)
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Mrs. Harber received the following letter from the Major commanding her son's Battery: -

Dear Madam, - May I express my deepest sympathy with you in the loss you have sustained by the death of your son, No. 855177, Bdr. Harber, A.G., who has been serving in my Battery. He was a lad I took great personal interest in, and I think he had the makings of a very good Non-Commissioned Officer.
Yours truly, F.A. EDWARDS,
Major, R.F.A.
Commanding "E" Battery, R.F.A.
Bordon, 25/5/1917

Page 3

ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Mr. and Mrs. C. Harber and family acknowledge with grateful thanks the kind expressions of sympathy received in their bereavement. They also thank all friends for wreaths and floral tributes.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, September 28, 1917 Page 2

FLETCHER-HARBER. - On September 24th (by special licence) in London, George Harold Fletcher, of Hamilton, Scotland, to Florence Nettie Harber, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Harber, Sydling Cottage, Ventnor, I.W.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, May 28, 1920 Page 2

IN MEMORIAM
HARBER. - In loving memory of our dear boy, Archie George Harber, who died in the service of his country, May 23rd, 1917, aged 20. - "To live in the hearts of those we love and leave behind is not to die."