Soldier Record
Michael Harvey
Contributed by: Mary Connor, on 2008-11-20
| Rank | |
|---|---|
| First Name | Michael |
| Surname | Harvey |
| Year of Birth | 1882 |
| Year of Death | 1919 |
| Regiment | Royal Northumberland Fusiliers |
| Place of Wartime Residence | Crook, Durham |
Michael's Story
Michael enlisted in Crook, Co Durham, on 29th December 1914. He was the son of Francis and Sarah Harvey. He was a miner in Wooley Pit, until he joined the 4th Battalion Tyneside Irish Brigade. In January 1916 he was sent to France to prepare for the "Big Push". On 1st July he received a severe gunshot wound to the shoulder and was sent to hospital in Harrogate. Later, he returned to France. In August 1917 he was wounded again and sent back to England to recuperate. He was returned again to France and in October 1918 he was severely gassed. On the 1st November 1918 he was discharged from Bermondsey Military Hospital and was sent home to be nursed by his devoted family. He died an agonising death on 24th January 1919. On 23rd January 1999, a military headstone was erected over his grave in Crook Roman Catholic cemetery, 80 years after his death.
A brave man who was wounded on three occasions and who died an agonising death in 1919
Other memories
His brother L/Sgt James Benedict of the Tyneside Irish was killed on 1st July 1916. On this same day, his brother-in-law Corporal John Cross was also killed. Neither of these men had a known grave. They are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy, France. Michael's nephew Pte Francis Harvey, DLI, was killed in 1917 at Passchendaele. Another nephew, James was wounded twice on the Somme and survived the war.
Michael said that he could not bear the sound of hailstones as it reminded him of the sound of gunfire on the Somme battlefield. Other than that, he refused to talk about his war experiences.
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