Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey
Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1 September 1888 Athboy,County Meath,Ireland |
| Died | 24 August 1980(aged 91) Fort Macleod,Alberta,Canada |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/ | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1946 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands | Lord Strathcona's Horse |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Military Cross Croix de Guerre(France) |
| Relations | Thomas Arnold Harvey |
BrigadierFrederick Maurice Watson Harvey,VC,MC(1 September 1888 – 24 August 1980) was an Irish-born Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, Canadian soldier andrugby unionplayer. During theFirst World War,while serving in theCanadian Expeditionary Force,he was awarded theVictoria Cross,theMilitary Crossand the FrenchCroix de Guerre.
Military career
[edit]Educated at Portora Royal School andEllesmere College,[1]Harvey first arrived in Canada in 1908 where he worked as asurveyorin northernAlbertaandHigh River.On 18 May 1916 he enlisted in the13th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles,atMedicine Hat, Alberta.He was subsequently commissioned as a lieutenant and posted to theWestern Frontin 1916. He then transferred toLord Strathcona's Horse,part of theCanadian Cavalry Brigade.Harvey was awarded theVictoria Crossfollowing an incident on 27 March 1917 at the village ofGuyencourt.
During an attack by his regiment on a village, a party of the enemy ran forward to a wired trench just in front of the village, and opened rapid fire and machine-gun fire at a very close range, causing heavy casualties in the leading troop. At this critical moment, when the enemy showed no intention whatever of retiring, and fire was still intense, Lt. Harvey, who was in command of the leading troops, ran forward well ahead of his men and dashed at the trench, skilfully manned, jumped the wire, shot the machine-gunner and captured the gun. His most courageous act undoubtedly had a decisive effect on the success of the operations.[2]
Harvey was originally awarded theDistinguished Service Orderbut this was later upgraded to a VC. In March 1918, Harvey was also awarded theMilitary Crossfor the same action that earned LieutenantGordon Flowerdewthe VC.
After the war Harvey remained with Lord Strathcona's Horse and was promoted tocaptainin 1923. He then served as the Instructor in Physical Training at theRoyal Military College of Canadafrom 1923 to 1927. In 1938, he was promoted tolieutenant coloneland became the commanding officer of Lord Strathcona's Horse. In 1939, he was made abrigadierand commander of Military District 13.[3]
Sporting career
[edit]Harvey made two senior appearances forIreland.He played in the1907 Home Nations ChampionshipagainstWalesatCardiff Arms Park,losing 29–0. His teammates on the day includedJames Cecil ParkeandBasil Maclear.He played for Ireland for the second and last time in the1911 Five Nations Championshipat theMardyke,winning 25–5 againstFrance.[4][5][6]
Harvey played rugby for bothWanderersandIreland.He is one of three Ireland rugby union internationals to have been awarded the Victoria Cross. The other two areThomas CreanandRobert Johnston,who both served in theSecond Boer War.Like Harvey, Crean and Johnston also played for Wanderers.[7][8]His two brothersArnoldand Duncan[9]were also notable sportsmen. Both also represented Ireland at rugby,[10]while Arnold also represented Ireland atcricketand athletics.
Later years
[edit]Harvey retired in December 1945, but maintained an active interest in horses as a judge of hunter and jumper competitions. He also served as Honorary Colonel of Lord Strathcona's Horse from 1958 to 1966.[11]
He died aged 91 years and was buried at Union Cemetery inFort Macleod,Alberta.
In 2019 his story along with other Wanderers Victoria Cross recipientsRobert Johnston VCandThomas Crean VCwas told in a documentary entitled "Mark Our Place" directed and Produced byAshley Morrison.
References
[edit]- ^telegraph.co.uk
- ^"No. 30122".The London Gazette(Supplement). 8 June 1917. p. 5702.
- ^MD 13 comprised Alberta and parts of the Northwest Territories. Staff note in the Nov 1923Royal Military College of CanadaReview
- ^"irishrugby.ie".Archived fromthe originalon 27 December 2018.Retrieved10 January2009.
- ^irishrugby.ieArchived22 November 2007 at theWayback Machine
- ^The Ireland Rugby Miscellany(2007): Ciaran Cronin
- ^timesonline.co.uk
- ^wanderers.ieArchived12 January 2009 at theWayback Machine
- ^generals.dk
- ^irishrugby.ieArchived14 February 2009 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Alberta GenWeb Veterans Project Site".Archived fromthe originalon 25 October 2008.
Bibliography
[edit]- Gliddon, Gerald (2012) [1998].Arras and Messines 1917.VCs of the First World War.The History Press.ISBN978-0-7524-6604-0.
External links
[edit]- 1888 births
- 1980 deaths
- Burials in Canada
- Military personnel from County Meath
- Canadian Militia officers
- Canadian Army officers
- People from Athboy
- Canadian people of Anglo-Irish descent
- Irish emigrants to Canada
- Ireland international rugby union players
- Wanderers F.C. (rugby union) players
- Canadian World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Irish World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Canadian recipients of the Military Cross
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- People educated at Ellesmere College
- Academic staff of the Royal Military College of Canada
- Canadian Army personnel of World War II
- People educated at Portora Royal School
- Canadian Expeditionary Force officers
- Lord Strathcona's Horse officers
- Canadian military personnel of World War I
- Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
- Rugby union players from County Meath