Harry John Laurent VC (15 April 1895 – 9 December 1987) was a New Zealander 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 was 23 years old, and a sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 12 September 1918 east of Gouzeaucourt Wood, France, during an attack, Sergeant Laurent was detailed to exploit an initial success and keep in touch with the enemy. With a party of 12 he located the very strong enemy support line and at once charged the position followed by his men completely disorganizing the enemy by the suddenness of his attack. In the hand-to-hand fighting which ensued, 30 of the enemy were killed and the remainder, totaling one officer and 111 other ranks, surrendered. His party suffered four casualties.
His ashes are interred in the Memorial Wall at the Servicemen's Cemetery at Hawera, Taranaki, New Zealand. His Victoria Cross was displayed at the QEII Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand. On Sunday 2 December 2007 it was one of nine Victoria Crosses that were among a hundred medals stolen from the museum.[1] On 16 February 2008 New Zealand Police announced all the medals had been recovered as a result of a NZ$300,000 reward offered by Michael Ashcroft and Tom Sturgess.[2]