Private (later Sergeant) Jack Harvey VC

(Click to enlarge) The dedication of the headstone of Sgt. J Harvey, Redstone Cemetery, Redhill, 2nd September 1984. The Revd. D Walker officiating.

Sergeant Harvey won his Victoria Cross as a Private soldier when serving in France, north of Peronne on 2^nd September 1918. He destroyed a machine gun post which was holding up his Company and then rushed a dug-out compelling 37 of the enemy to surrender. He died at the early age of 48 in 1940 and was buried at Redstone Cemetery, Redhill.

As part of his research in the VC's of The Regiment, Lt. Col. Les Wilson discovered that Sergeant Harvey's decoration and Medals had come into the possession by purchase of Mr N. C. McCrery, who is a policeman in Nottingham and who is a recognised and respected medal collector. At the same time Mr. McCrery during his investigations into the history od Sergeant Harvey had found that the grave at Redhill was Unmarked.

Resulting from this, the Association decided that this sad situation must be remedied and a Headstone, of Commonwealth War Graves Commission type, has been placed on the grave on 2^nd September 1984. The Service, which received national publicity in both Press and the BBC, was conducted by Reverend Douglas Walker RA ChD, Chaplain to 5 Queen's.

Amongst those present were Mrs. N.F.A. Harvey and her son, Sergeant Harvey's grandson, and other relations, the Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, the Mayor and Mayoress of Southwark, Captain P.J. Gardner VC MC late R. Tanks representing the VC and GC Association, Colonel C.H. Nice TD DL representing the 6^th Queen's the successors of 22^nd London Regiment, The Queen's and Major JMA Tamplin representing 7^th Queen's the successors of 24^th London Regiment, The Queen's. Mr. N.C. McCrery together with his father and brother were there also. The President of the Association read the Lesson at the Service and laid a wreath, as did Colonel J.W. Francis, representing The Queen's Regiment.