681271 BDR. A. S. HARVEY.  R.F.A.

 

Arthur Stanley Harvey was born on 28 August 1890 in Ardwick, Manchester, and baptised at Chancery Lane Wesleyan School Mission on 12 October 1890.  His father was Thomas Hammond Harvey (b. 1861 in Openshaw), a clerk working for a coal merchant.  His mother was Sarah Ellen Toft (b. 1859 in Ardwick).  Thomas and Sarah were married in 1883 and they had four children, but two died.  Arthur’s older brother was Thomas William (b. 1885).  In 1911, the family had moved to Timperley in Cheshire and were living on Heyes Lane.  Arthur was a buyer’s assistant working for a shipping company.

 

From his service number, Arthur may have enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in late 1915 or early 1916, and probably did his training with 286 Brigade.   In early 1917, Arthur married Blanche Littler (b. 1895 in Fazackerley), and if I’m right that he was originally in 286Bde he would have gone to France immediately afterwards with 57th Division, who landed in France in February 1917.

 

At some point, Arthur was promoted to Bombardier and he was transferred to “B” Battery of 162nd Brigade.  162Bde came under orders of 33rd Division.  In 1918, 33rd Division was heavily engaged in the Battles of the Lys, in April, and later in the year in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, the capture of Cambrai in October, and the pursuit of the Germans to the River Selle.  On 26 October the Division captured Englefontaine and was that night relieved by the 38th (Welsh) Division. After a period of rest at Troisvilles it re-entered the line on 5 November, advancing through the Foret de Mormal.  By 7 November it was on a line to the east of the Avesnes-Maubeuge road.  It was there once again relieved by the Welsh Division and moved to the Sambre valley near Leval; it was there at the Armistice.  Having survived the War, Arthur succumbed to the influenza pandemic.  He died on 17 November 1918, aged 28.

 

Rank: Bombardier

Service No:  681271

Date of Death: 17/11/1918

Age:  28

Regiment/Service:  Royal Field Artillery, “B” Bty, 162nd Bde.

Cemetery/memorial reference:  I. D. 8.

Cemetery/Memorial:  CAUDRY BRITISH CEMETERY

Additional Information: Husband of Blanche Harvey, of 81 Navigator Road, Altrincham, Cheshire.

​

Arthur’s older brother, Thomas William, also served in the War.  He was DM2/179028 PTE. T. W. HARVEY.  R.A.S.C.  Tom was born in 1886 and in 1914 he married Mary Simpson (b. 1888 in Timperley).  He attested he was willing to serve in the Army on 26 May 1916 and he was posted to the Army Service Corps as a driver.  He landed in France with 733 Company on 19 January 1917.  He was wounded on 24 March 1918 but he remained in France until 12 August 1918.  During the War he was attached to a number of Divisional Supply Columns, including 38th Division, 30th Division and 3rd Canadian Division.  Towards the end of his time in France, in June 1918, he was based at Trouville, on the Channel coast.  Back home he was attached to 335 MT Company and he was demobilised in April 1919.  I haven’t been able to trace any information about Tom or Mary after the War.

​

​