Jack Harvey
Private, 1st/22nd Battalion The London Regiment. (The Queen's)
- Register No.
- 543 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 1st/22nd Battalion The London Regiment. (The Queen's) all London Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 2 September 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 15th November 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 24th August 1891 at Peckham, London
- Died
- 15th August 1940 at Redhill, Surrey
- Memorial / grave
- Redstone Cemetery, Redhill, Surrey and on Stone Memorial at Redhill Town Hall
Digest of citation
On 2 September 1918 north of Peronne, France, when the advance of his company was held up by machine-gun fire, Private Harvey dashed forward a distance of 50 yards alone, through our barrage and in the face of heavy enemy fire and rushed a machine-gun post, shhoting two of the team and bayoneting another. He then destroyed the gun and continued his way along the enemy trench . Single-handed he rushed an enemy dug-out which contained 37 Germans and compelled them to surrender. The two acts of gallantry saved the company heavy casualties and materially assisted in the success of the operation. 631139 Private Jack Harvey was Born on at 2, Curral Grove, the Old Kent Road, Peckham. He was the son of yard foreman W Harvey. He was Educated at Ruby Street School, Old Kent Road. He joined the 1st/22nd Battalion of the London Regiment (The Queen's) and served for three and a half years. He served on the Western Front in the European war (WW 1), seeing action at Loos and the Hairpin on 30th December 1915; involved in the raid near Bully Grenay on 9th July 1916; at High Wood on the 15th September 1916; at Butte-de-Morlencourt on 7th October, 1916; at Messines Ridge on 7th June 1917; at Bourlon Wood on 30th November, 1917. He was involved inthe resistance to the German offensive on 21st March 1918 and on 30th March 1918 at a Aveluy Wood; at Happy Valley on 30th March 1918; at Ardela Wood on 30th August 1918; at Bouchevnes (where he won his VC) on 2nd September 1918. He was in the March through Lille on 20th October 1918. He served in the outpost line at Monstier on the 10th to 11th November, 1918. In the Battalion Orders the following was written: No. 631139 Jack Harvey 1st/22nd Battalion, London Regiment. For most conspicuous gallantry and disregard of personal danger on the 2nd September, 1918, during the advance north of Péronne. The advance of his company was held up by intense machine-gun fire; this man at once dashed forward a distance of 50 yards alone through our barrage and in the face of heavy enemy fire, and rushed a machine-gun post, shooting two of the team and bayoneting another. He then destroyed the gun, and continued to work his way along the enemy trench, and going forward alone for about 200 yards, single-handed rushed an enemy dug out, which contained 37 Germans, and compelled them to surrender. By these two acts of great gallantry he saved the company heavy casualties, and enabled the whole of the attacking line to advance. Throughout the entire operation he showed the most magnificent courage and determination, and by this splendid example he set to all ranks, materially assisted in the success of the operation. (This citation appeared in the London London Gazette 15th November 1918. "The Commanding Officer heartily congratulates the recipient on his well deserved honour. The Army, Corps, Division and Brigade Commanders request that their congratulations to be conveyed to Private Jack Harvey."
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HARVEY, Jack. (Reg. No 543)
Private, 1st/22nd Battalion The London Regiment. (The Queen's)
London Gazetted on 15th November 1918 Born on 24th August 1891 at Peckham, London.
Died on 15th August 1940 at Redhill, Surrey.
Memorials at Redstone Cemetery, Redhill, Surrey and on Stone Memorial at Redhill Town Hall.
Digest of Citation reads: On 2 September 1918 north of Peronne, France, when the advance of his company was held up by machine-gun fire, Private Harvey dashed forward a distance of 50 yards alone, through our barrage and in the face of heavy enemy fire and rushed a machine-gun post, shhoting two of the team and bayoneting another. He then destroyed the gun and continued his way along the enemy trench . Single-handed he rushed an enemy dug-out which contained 37 Germans and compelled them to surrender. The two acts of gallantry saved the company heavy casualties and materially assisted in the success of the operation. 631139 Private Jack Harvey was Born on at 2, Curral Grove, the Old Kent Road, Peckham. He was the son of yard foreman W Harvey. He was Educated at Ruby Street School, Old Kent Road. He joined the 1st/22nd Battalion of the London Regiment (The Queen's) and served for three and a half years. He served on the Western Front in the European war (WW 1), seeing action at Loos and the Hairpin on 30th December 1915; involved in the raid near Bully Grenay on 9th July 1916; at High Wood on the 15th September 1916; at Butte-de-Morlencourt on 7th October, 1916; at Messines Ridge on 7th June 1917; at Bourlon Wood on 30th November, 1917. He was involved inthe resistance to the German offensive on 21st March 1918 and on 30th March 1918 at a Aveluy Wood; at Happy Valley on 30th March 1918; at Ardela Wood on 30th August 1918; at Bouchevnes (where he won his VC) on 2nd September 1918. He was in the March through Lille on 20th October 1918. He served in the outpost line at Monstier on the 10th to 11th November, 1918. In the Battalion Orders the following was written: No. 631139 Jack Harvey 1st/22nd Battalion, London Regiment. For most conspicuous gallantry and disregard of personal danger on the 2nd September, 1918, during the advance north of Péronne. The advance of his company was held up by intense machine-gun fire; this man at once dashed forward a distance of 50 yards alone through our barrage and in the face of heavy enemy fire, and rushed a machine-gun post, shooting two of the team and bayoneting another. He then destroyed the gun, and continued to work his way along the enemy trench, and going forward alone for about 200 yards, single-handed rushed an enemy dug out, which contained 37 Germans, and compelled them to surrender. By these two acts of great gallantry he saved the company heavy casualties, and enabled the whole of the attacking line to advance. Throughout the entire operation he showed the most magnificent courage and determination, and by this splendid example he set to all ranks, materially assisted in the success of the operation. (This citation appeared in the London London Gazette 15th November 1918. "The Commanding Officer heartily congratulates the recipient on his well deserved honour. The Army, Corps, Division and Brigade Commanders request that their congratulations to be conveyed to Private Jack Harvey."
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Alf recorded the memorial as: Redstone Cemetery, Redhill, Surrey and on Stone Memorial at Redhill Town Hall
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