Lieutenant, Harry Thomas HARVEY ,
Aged 25
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Born in 1892 (1st qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:768) son of Henry Francis and Carolone Elizabeth HARVEY (née PEARCE)
1901 census...Aged 9, he was at 5 Brentgovel Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Henry F HARVEY, [48] fishmonger/game dealer born Ampton; his mother Caroline E [47] born Notting Hill, London; sisters May C [7] and Daisy A [6], both born Bury St.Edmunds; widower grandfather Henry HARVEY (sen) [86] retired fishmonger/game dealer born Ampton 1911 census...He has not been found in this census, most likely working in London. His parents have also not been found but are still resident at 5 Brentgovel Street. Sisters May Caroline and Daisy Agnes were boarders at Convent of St.Mary's Woodbridge Road, Ipswich. |
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He enlisted in
The Bury Free Press on 18th August 1917 recorded:- FELL DOING HIS DUTY - A YOUNG BURY OFFICER'S DEATH - The number of gallant young officers who have made the supreme sacrifice in defence of the honour and good name of our glorious Empire is appallingly great, and the grim necessities of war have called upon the ancient borough of Bury St.Edmund's to contribute its full quota to this roll of national heroes. The latest local name to be added to the list is that of Lieut. Harry Thos.Harvey, only son of Mr.and Mrs.Harvey, 5 Brentgovel Street, Bury, who met his death in action in France on the last day of July. The deceased was a young and promising officer of 24 summers. He was well known in the town, his parents being old residents, who are held in the highest esteem, and on all hands sympathy of the most sincere character has been extended to them and their daughters in their loss. To be called upon to give up an only son and brother is to make a sacrifice the magnitude of which can only be adequately measured by those whose tragic lot it is to bear. We hope, however, that the thought that Lieut.Harvey nobly gave his life for the sacred cause of liberty and honour may prove a real consolation to them. Lieut.Harvey possessed a host of friends in Bury and elsewhere, his honest, frank and pleasant disposition naturally endearing him to all with whom he came in contact,and the news of his young and promising life cut short so tragically will creat profound sorrow in many hearts. Like the true young Englishman he was, Lieut.Harvey came forward early in the war and offered his services to his country in its hour of need. He joined the 6th Suffolk Regiment at Bury, and the same day he was sent to the East Coast as dispatch rider. After a few months in that capacity he obtained his commission with the 3rd/5th Suffolks in June 1915, and was stationed at Tring, where after a time he was made Machine Gun Instructor. As there was no immediate prospect of getting to the scene of hostilities in France, he applied to be transferred to a Machine Gun Corps, which application was granted, and in October 1916 he crossed the Channel, where he served up to the time of his death. Lieut.Harvey possessed all the characteristics of the officer of our modern citizen army. He was deservedly popular with all ranks, his devotion to duty and never failing fearlessness in the face of danger stamping him British to the core. By profession he was a surveyor and estate agent. After completing his education at Mount St.Mary's College, Chesterfield, he was articled to a firm of surveyors and estate agents in London where he successfully passed all his examinations, and it is no exaggeration to state a professional career of the greatest promise was before him. The bereaved parents have received the following letter from his Commanding Officer :- 3rd August 1917 Dear Mr.Harvey, - I deeply regret to have to inform you of the death of your son, Lieut.H.T.Harvey, 23rd Machine Gun Company, who was killed in action on the 31st July. He was hit by a fragment of a shell in the chest just over the heart, and death was instantaneous. Owing to the situation it was impossible to bury him, and though I am not allowed to tell you now where he was killed, I know the exact spot and shall be able to tell you in a few weeks time. Doubtless the Graves Registration Committee will notify you of the map reference of his grave. Though I have not been with his Company very long, I have had time to appreciate how popular your son was with both officers and men; his devotion to duty and fearlessness were well known to us all, and his death has made a gap in the Company which it will be hard to fill. I am sending his kit to Messrs Cox's Shipping Agency,16 Charing Cross, London SW, the small articles of sentimental value which your son had on his person are being sent to the Standing Committee of Adjustment, General Headquarters, 3rd Echelon, and such money as he had in his pocket to the Command Paymaster Base. Please accept our deepest sympathy with you and your family in your terrible loss - Yours Sincerely, A.C. BREINTT. The action at that time was to take the Pilkem Ridge, which was successful but many objctives were not reached and casualties totalled around 30,000
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