Jack Harvey

He stormed a machine gun and captured thirty-seven prisoners

Jack Harvey was born at Peckham, London, on 24 August 1891. His father worked at a gasworks. After attending Ruby Street School he entered employment with the chocolate manufacturer George Payne. He enlisted in the 1/22nd Battalion, London Regiment, in November 1914 and went to France in June 1915.

That month he married Rose Neale. Their family life unfolded alongside his wartime service, which eventually brought promotion to sergeant. His battalion served in the operations that culminated in the Allied advance of 1918.

On 2 September 1918, near Moislains, an enemy machine gun was holding up his unit. Harvey charged the position, shot one member of the crew and killed another with his bayonet. After overcoming the gun, he moved against a dugout containing a much larger body of enemy troops. His determined approach induced its occupants to surrender, and he took 37 prisoners.

The attack removed an immediate obstacle to the advance and secured prisoners from a position that might otherwise have prolonged the resistance. His Victoria Cross recognised the initiative and courage with which he carried out these successive actions. King George V presented it on 8 March 1919, after Harvey had already been discharged from the army.

He returned to George Payne's business and worked as a maintenance engineer. He and Rose raised a son and daughter. In 1939 the family moved to Merstham, Surrey. He remained connected with former servicemen through the British Legion, but died on 15 August 1940, shortly before his 49th birthday. He was buried in Redstone Cemetery, Redhill.