Norman Harvey
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Norman Harvey VC (6 April 1899—16 February 1942) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He re-enlisted in World War II and was killed in action.
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[edit] VC details
He was 19 years old, and a Private in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 25 October 1918 at Ingoyghem, Belgium, when the battalion was held up and suffering heavy casualties from the enemy machine-guns, Private Harvey on his own initiative rushed forward and engaged the enemy single-handed, disposing of 20 of them and capturing the guns. Later when his company was checked by another enemy strong point he again rushed forward and put the enemy to flight. Subsequently, after dark he voluntarily carried out a single-handed and important reconnaissance and gained valuable information.
[edit] World War II
Harvey enlisted into the Royal Engineers in 1939 and joined 199 Railway Workshop Company. He was promoted to Company Quartermaster-Sergeant in April 1941. He was killed in action, near Haifa, Palestine on 16th Feb 1942.[1][2]
[edit] The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Regimental Museum of The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Enniskillen, Northern Ireland).
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
- VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)
