Jack Harvey VC

b. 24/08/1891 Peckham, London. d. 15/08/1940 Redhill, Surrey.

Jack Harvey (1891-1940) was born on 24th August 1891 at 2 Canal Grove, Old Kent Road, Peckham, London. His father, William, married Eliza Matilda Pearce on 24th June 1876 in Maidstone, Kent. William was a labourer in a gas works, before becoming a yard foreman. He later became a foreman in a gas works and by 1911, they had moved to Great Sampford, Essex. Eliza died when Jack was 21, and his father remarried to Susan Eastwood nee Church in Reigate, Surrey in 1916. She was previously married to Arthur Eastwood who had died in 1906. Jack had nine siblings from his father’s marriage to Eliza.

Jack was educated at Ruby Street School, Old Kent Road, Peckham and then worked as a maintenance engineer for George Payne & Co, tea and coffee blenders in Tower Bridge, Bermondsey. They were the largest tea merchant business in the world by 1910. In 1911, he was living with his sister, Daisy and brother in law Edward Samuel Smithers in Peckham.

Jack enlisted in the 1/22nd London at Jamaica Road, Bermondsey on 26th November 1914. He was then billeted for some time in Hooley Road, Redhill, Surrey. Jack married Rose Maude Neale, a machinist from Newington, on 13th June 1915 at St George’s Church, Camberwell. They had a son, Jack Victor Charles (born in 1920), who later served in the Royal Navy in WW2.

Jack proceeded to operational service in France on 30th June 1915. He was in action at the Battle of Loos and a number of other engagements including the Somme 1916, Messines Ridge 1917, Bourlon Wood in November 1917, and in stemming the German Spring Offensive of March 1918.

Jack Harvey VC

On 2nd 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 the English barrage and in the face of heavy enemy fire. He rushed a machine gun post, shooting two of the team and bayoneting another. He then destroyed the gun and continued his way along the enemy trench. He single-handedly rushed an enemy dugout which contained 37 Germans and compelled them to surrender. These acts of gallantry saved the company heavy casualties and materially assisted in the success of the operation.

He was gazetted for the VC on 12th November 1918, and attended his investiture at Buckingham Palace on 8th March 1919 where he was presented with his VC by King George V. Also at his investiture was another Camberwell native, George Cartwright VC. Jack was also presented with an illuminated address and a purse of money donated by the citizens of Camberwell by the Mayor, Alderman Coats.

Jack was promoted to Corporal following his VC action and was demobbed in 1919. Jack attested at Bermondsey on 3rd November 1920 and served in B Company, London Regiment Reserve until being discharged in 1923. Jack and Rose moved to Merstham, Surrey, and he returned to working at George Payne & Co, this time at the company’s confectionary factory in Beddington. He worked for the company for a total of 34 years. He attended two VC reunions – the VC Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 1920, and the VC Dinner at the House of Lords in 1929. He became an active member of the Royal British Legion.

Jack died at the tragically young age of 48 on 15th August 1940 at his home, 76 Brook Road, Merstham, near Redhill, Surrey. He was buried in Redstone Cemetery in Redhill with full military honours. The grave lay unmarked until a local policeman, Nigel McCrery located it. After locating several ex-servicemen’s associations, including the Queen’s Regiment, a headstone was dedicated on 2nd September 1984, attended by Captain Philip Gardner VC MC. Jack is commemorated with a memorial at Redhill Town Hall, in the Victor Comic issued on 11th February 1984, and with a VC commemorative stone placed at Burgess Park, Southwark on 3rd September 2018.

In addition to the VC, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, and George VI Coronation Medal 1937. Jack’s widow fell on hard times after his death and sold the medals for £60. The group formed part of Jack Stenabaugh’s collection in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada. The medals were bought by Nigel McCrery in October 1984 for £10,000. The George VI Coronation Medal was missing, or never claimed, and McCrery added a replacement. The group was purchased by Lord Ashcroft in a private sale in 2001.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT COLLECTION.

BURIAL PLACE: REDSTONE CEMETERY, REDHILL, SURREY.

SECTION C, GRAVE 2359