No.3/9737, Private, James HARVEY
Aged 53
10th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Died of Illness on Wednesday, 9th July 1919
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James Harvey was born in Isleham in 1866 (Newmarket Q1-1866 3b:567), son of Richard and Elizabeth HARVEY (née GAMMON)
1871 census...Aged 5, he was at Waterside Isleham with his father Richard HARVEY [30] and mother Elizabeth [25]. All three born in Cambridgeshire and recorded as 'Hervey'. 1881 census...Aged 15, an agricultural labourer, he was at Coe's Drove, Isleham with his parents, brothers Lewis [9], David[7], John [3] and Richard [1] and sisters Phebe [8]and Ann[4]. All the family were born in Isleham. 1891 census...Aged 25, he was in the Army (Suffolk Regiment #931),in the East Indies. His parents were still at Coe's Drove with Phebe, David, John, Richard, Edward [10], William [7], Elizabeth [5], Joseph [3] and Agnes [6 months]. His father Richard died in 1894 According to his Army records he married Hannah BIRD ( possibly from Coe's Drove, Isleham) on 26th September 1892( it was 29th April, as soon as he returned from East Indies) . It seems it could be her dying in Isleham in 1898 shortly after the birth of Agnes and at about the same time as Ada's death. Parish records show three children, Ada (14th June 1893 Isleham who seems to have died in 1898) Lily (1st August 1895 Isleham, died Lily BROWN in 1997) and Agnes (1st May 1898 Isleham died in infancy). He has entered Lily's birth date as 7-10-1895. 1901 census...Aged 35, he was still in the Army. His widowed mother was at Hives Drove, Isleham with his daughter Lilie [5] born Isleham on 2nd October 1895, and his brothers Edward, William and Joseph. 1911 census...Aged 45, he was still in the Army (transferred to Reserves on 30th March 1912). His last address on Army papers is Fern Bank,Isleham. His mother was still at Hives Drove, Isleham with his daughter Lily. The pension card adds to the confusion. With no dates, it records that Hannah (at Waterside Drove, Isleham) is deceased and there are no children, yet Lily did not die until 1997 He was the eldest brother of William Harvey who died at home in December 1918.. see here |
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Attested on 10th June 1884 in Bury St Edmunds. Aged 18 yrs 5 months, a labourer, 5 feet 4.5 inches (163.8 cm) tall, weighing 117 lbs (51 kg) brown eyed and dark brown hair, chest 34" (86.4 cm), Church of England. Joined as No.931, 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment 30th September 1884, posted to 1st Battalion 11th September 1885 and sent to the East Indies. Promoted Drummer 29th December 1988, which rank he retained until 17th January 1890. On 18th January 1890 he was awaiting trial, on 1st February he was convicted and reduced to Private, returned to duty as such on 27th February 1892. The offence is not recorded. He was in the East Indies until 23rd March 1892. Transferred to Army Reserve on 27th March 1892. Civilian life seemed too much for him, as he re enlisted for four years on 10th June 1896. Possibly the trauma of Hannah and children's deaths affected him as he was imprisoned by civil power on 30th October 1899, again the offence is not recorded. After 181 days he was released to duty on 29th April 1900, rejoined the colours and was mobilised. Then on 8th August 1900 he was declared a deserter, forfeiting all seniority and service in Sect D Reserves. On 24th January 1903 he rejoined from desertion. A Courts Martial was dispensed with,he was relegated to Army Reserves to complete his engagement (306 days from the date of the dispensation of trial. His engagement then terminated on 1st December 1903. he had served 19 years 175 days (202 days not accounting for pension) Such leniency was unusual, perhaps his mental state was such that he had confused his terms of engagement and the affect of his civil imprisonment on his service engagement. In the event things turned out well as he seems to have been an exemplary soldier in subsequent enlistments, even his acceptance by them appears to show the Army were forgiving Next, at the declared age of 37 he enlisted again in the Suffolk Regiment on 9th March 1905. He was now 5' 7.75" (172.1 cm) tall, weighed 160 lbs (72.8 kg), chest 35" to 38" (88.9 to 96.5 cm). Eyes now given as grey. Posted to the 7th Battalion, he was then promoted Corporal in 4th Bn.on 15th May 1905 and Lance Sergeant 14th May 1906 and Sergeant on 27th May 1907. Service life was an obsession with him, re engaging on 9th March 1901 for a further 4 years, being transferred to the Army Reserve on 13th March 1912. Even this was not enough for him, and on 2nd September 1914 he was back in the Suffolk Regiment. This time he entered at 44 years 7 months, a labourer, widower, 5'7.5" (172.1 cm) tall, weighing 154 lbs (70.1 kg)chest 39.5" to 42" (100.3 to 106.7 cm). Posted to the 8th Suffolks 4th September 1914, he joined the 10th Suffolks on 26th July 1915 when he was first ill and was admitted to hospital in Salisbury. After 74 days he was moved to hospital in Sutton Surrey on 7th October 1915. Diagnosed with Tubercular Disease, he was discharged as permanently physically unfit for service on 4th December 1915. The Army denied his illness originated in service but did, after appeals admit it MAY have been aggravated by military service. In June 1916 James had his right leg amputated below the knee. He died at home on 9th July 1919 and it is assumed that he is buried in Isleham. He has no medals as he never left UK in the Great War. Neither did he have a Silver War Badge, but considering his age it was probably not needed and the fact he was discharged before the Badge was instituted meant that it is likely no claim was made.. His death certificate gives the cause of death at Tuberculosis so "In from the Cold" were asked to proceed with trying to get James accepted onto the National Book of Remembrance. That was successful on 21st January 2017. What is needed now is evidence of his place of burial. If the grave is not found it is still possible for a CWGC headstone to be placed in the cemetery annotated with "Known to be buried in this Cemetery". The parish register for St Andrews does not include this burial. Help with this would be much appreciated. |
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