A Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to...

A Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain J. P. Harvey, Canadian Engineers

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (45008 Sjt. J. P. Harvey. Can: Eng:); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. P. Harvey.); together with the recipient’s related miniature awards; and a Orillia Great War Tribute Medal, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘Capt. J. P. Harvey Can. Eng. 1914-19’, with top bronze riband bar, good very fine and better (5) £1,200-£1,600

Footnote
M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

John Percival Harvey was born in Orillia, Ontario, in 1891 and was educated at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, from 1908 to 1913, graduating in May of 1913 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Following the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted in the 3rd Field Company, Canadian Engineers at Valcartier on 23 September 1914, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 February 1915. He saw action in the Battle of Ypres from 22 April to 25 May 1915; on the first day of action Harvey’s company was at Gravenstafel where it came under a heavy gas attack. This same day the company was thrown into the line as infantry with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade. By the following day the company was at St. Julien where it was released from its infantry role leaving it free to proceed to Wieltje. On 25 April the company again went into line as infantry with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade. On 18 May 1915 Harvey was again in the front line with his company, this time at Festubert. He participated in the Battle of Festubert until 25 May, after which his company moved to Oblinghem, arriving there on 31 May. On 30 June 1915 the company arrived at Ploegsteert and remained there in relatively static positions for the winter.

Harvey was commissioned second lieutenant on 12 March 1916. Assigned to the 8th Field Company, Canadian Engineers with the 3rd Canadian Division, he arrived at his new unit in time to participate in the campaigns at Fler-Courcelette, 15-22 September 1916; Thiepval, 26-28 September 1916; Ancre Heights, 1 October to 11 November 1916, including Le Transloy, 1-18 October 1916. For his gallant services during the autumn campaigns of 1916 Harvey was awarded the Military Cross. He was invested with his M.C. by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace on 14 April 1917.

Throughout the spring and summer of 1917 Harvey participated in many of the larger battles on the Western Front, including Vimy, 9-14 April 1917; Scarpe, 3-4 May 1917; Hill 70, 15-25 August 1917; and Passchendaele, 26 October to 10 November 1917.

Harvey was seconded for duty as a staff officer to 3rd Brigade Headquarters, Canadian Engineers, in July 1918, and saw further action with them, culminating in the Battle of Amiens, 8-11 August 1918, and the pursuit to Mons. Returning to Canada in February 1919, he was demobilised with the rank of captain on 17 May 1919.

Sold with a Queen’s University, Kingston, Annual Games silver prize medallion, the reverse engraved ‘Mile. J. P. Harvey’; two small French medallets; the recipients; original parchment Certificate of Service; Buckingham Palace telegram regarding the M.C. Investiture; various photographic images of the recipient; and much copied research.