Soldier Record

James was the youngest son of Francis and Sarah Harvey. His three brothers were miners, but they dissuaded him from going into the pit when he left school. He was a shop assistant, who worked in the local Cooperative Store. Enlisted in Crook in Jan. 1915. During his army service he became a Physical Training Instructor. In January 1916 James was sent to France in preparation for "The Big Push", alongside his brother, Corporal Michael Matthew Harvey, who was also in A Company, the 4th Battalion, Tyneside Irish Brigade. On 1st July 1916 James was killed in the Battle of the Somme. This was an horrific day for the Harvey family. James was killed together with Corporal John Cross, the husband of his sister, Mary Elizabeth. His brother Michael was also seriously wounded. On 12th October 1917, James' nephew, Francis Harvey, was killed at Paschendaele. James' brother Corporal Michael Harvey was discharged from the army on 1st November 1918 and died an agonising death as a result of gas poisoning on 24th January 1919. He was nursed at home by his sisters in the pit village of Stanley, Crook, Co Durham.