b. 06/04/1899 Newton-le-Willows, Cheshire. d. 16/02/1942 Haifa, Israel.
Norman Harvey (1899-1942) was born on 6th April 1899 in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, the son of Charles William and Mary Harvey. He was baptised in Newton-le-Willows on 22nd October 1899. By 1901, the family were living in Newton-in-Makerfield. He was one of oldest of six children, with brothers named Jack, Thomas and Joseph and sisters named Ada and Esther.
Norman Harvey VC
He enlisted into the South Lancashire Regiment in November 1914 at the age of 15 and was posted to France on the 6th August 1915. Wounded twice, the second being serious, he was evacuated to England, where his true age became known.
Posted back to France in 1918, now aged 19, he joined the 1st Battalion, The Inniskilling Fusiliers, it was on the 25th October 1918 at Ingoyghem, Belgium that he preformed the following deed for which he was awarded the VC.
On 25th October 1918, his battalion (the 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers) was held up and suffered heavy casualties from enemy machine guns. On his own initiative he rushed forward and engaged the enemy single-handed, disposing of twenty enemy and capturing two guns. Later, when his company was checked by another enemy strong point, he again rushed forward alone and put the enemy to flight. Subsequently, after dark, he voluntarily carried out, single-handed, an important reconnaissance and gained valuable information. Pte. Harvey throughout the day displayed the greatest valour, and his several actions enabled the line to advance, saved many casualties, and inspired all.
His VC was gazetted on 6th January 1919, and he was demobilized later that year. Later that year, he married Norah Osmand Osborne Treadwell in Neath, South Wales. They went on to have two children, Avril Joyce in 1920, and Norman in 1924. By the time of Norman junior’s birth he had returned to the North West and was living in Warrington, and later moved to Liverpool.
On the outbreak of World War Two, he enlisted into the Royal Engineers, and joined 199 Railway Workshop Company. He was promoted to Company Quartermaster-Sergeant in April 1941. He was killed in action, near Haifa, Mandatory Palestine (now Israel) on 16th February 1942. He was buried in Khayat Beach War Cemetery, Haifa. His medal group including the Victoria Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, 1939 -45 Star, Defence Medal 1939-45, War Medal 1939-45, and King George VI Coronation Medal 1937 are held by the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Museum, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS, ENNISKILLEN, NI.
BURIAL PLACE: KHAYAT BEACH WAR CEMETERY, HAIFA, ISRAEL.
PLOT A, GRAVE 4
Acknowledgements:
Kevin Brazier – Cemetery Map.
Paul Lee www.memorialstovalour.co.uk – Newton-le-Willows War Memorial