Harry Laurent

Led twelve men behind enemy lines and captured a large force

Henry John Laurent, known as Harry, was born at Tarata, Taranaki, on 15 April 1895. He attended Hawera District High School and worked in a cheese factory before joining the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in May 1915. He had already served with the territorial Taranaki Rifles. He sailed for Egypt that October with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and reached the Western Front in April 1916.

A wound on the Somme interrupted his service in October 1916. After returning to his battalion the following spring, he advanced through the noncommissioned ranks and became a sergeant in November 1917. His experience gave him responsibility for small parties operating close to the enemy during the Allied advance of 1918.

On 12 September, near Gouzeaucourt Wood, Laurent led a fighting patrol of twelve men into a strongly defended German position. The patrol became isolated behind the enemy line. Laurent attacked the trench system rather than withdraw, and close fighting resulted in numerous enemy casualties and the capture of 112 prisoners. He then organized the return through hostile territory, controlling the prisoners while fighting off counterattacks. His leadership earned the Victoria Cross.

Laurent attended officer training in England and was commissioned second lieutenant in February 1919. Returning to Hawera, he resumed civilian employment and married Ethel Homewood in July 1921. He remained connected with military service through the reserve.

Recalled during the Second World War, he commanded local defence forces in the Hawera area and later worked with the Air Training Corps. His responsibilities included training young men and organizing home defence while New Zealand's main expeditionary forces served overseas. He eventually retired as a lieutenant colonel. Laurent lived to see the seventieth anniversary of his wartime service and died in Hastings on 9 December 1987, aged ninety-two. His ashes were placed in the Hawera servicemen's cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery, skill, and enterprise when during an attack he was detailed to exploit an initial success and keep in touch with the enemy. With a party of twelve he located the enemy support line very strongly held, at once charged the position, followed by his men, and completely disorganised the enemy by his sudden onslaught. In the subsequent hand-to-hand fighting which ensued he showed great resourcefulness in controlling and encouraging his men, and thirty of the enemy having been killed, the remainder surrendered, a total of one officer and 111 other ranks in all. The success of this daring venture, which caused his party four casualties only, was due to his gallantry and enterprise.

Seventh Supplement to The London Gazette of 12 November 1918. 15 November 1918, Numb. 31012, p. 13472