680295 GNR. J. HARVEY.  R.F.A.

 

Joseph Harvey was born in the first quarter of 1896 in Oldham.  His father was Joseph Garibaldi Harvey (b. 1865 in Duckinfield, Cheshire), a superintendent in a life insurance company.  His mother was Elizabeth Ann Longson (b. 1863 in Compstall, Cheshire).  Joseph G and Elizabeth Ann were married in Ashton under Lyne in 1886 and they had seven children: Lily May (b. 1886), Sydney (b. 1889), Dora (b. 1893), the Joseph, then Mabel (b. 1900), Ernest (b. 1902) and Frank (b. 1908).  The family moved around the outskirts of Manchester before moving to Oldham in about 1895 and then to Bacup about 10 years later.  In 1911, they lived at 41 Dale Street, Bacup.  Joseph jnr was working as a grocer’s assistant.  Joseph G died in 1912.

 

Joseph was just old enough to enlist when War broke out, although for some reason, according to SDGW, he went to Blackpool to enlist.  He joined the Royal Field Artillery, was assigned service number 1367 and posted to “B” Battery of 276 Brigade.  His Bde landed with 55th Division in France on 30 September 1915.

 

Joe fought on the Somme in 1916 and on the Ypres Salient in 1917.  In July 1917, the Salient was “relatively quiet” but there were frequent raids and constant shelling by both sides, often with gas.  Joe died of wounds at No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station (Dozinghem) on 12 July 1917.  He was 21 years old.

 

Rank:  Gunner

Service No:  680295

Date of Death:  12/07/1917

Age:  21

Regiment/Service:  Royal Field Artillery, “B” Bty, 276 Bde.

Cemetery/memorial reference:  I. C. 9.

Cemetery/Memorial:  DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY

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