Name
Harvey Bryant (MC)
12 March 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/09/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Hampshire Regiment
2nd/4th Bn.
'A' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Cross
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HERMIES HILL BRITISH CEMETERY
2. D. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE NOBLY STRIVING NOBLY FELL
UK & Other Memorials
Ashwell Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Ashwell
Pre War
Harvey Bryant was born on 12 March 1890 in Ashwell, Herts, the only son of Wilfred and Martha Jane Bryant (nee Eversden). On the 1891 Census the family were living in High Street, Ashwell, where his father was working as a wheelwright and his mother as a dressmaker. He had an elder sister Hattie, They had moved to nearby Spring Head, Ashwell by 1901, and had been joined by younger sister Lillie May. In 1911 Harvey's parents and two sisters were living at Vine Villa, High Street, Ashwell, but Harvey was living with his grandfather, 74 year old Joseph William Eversden at Kingsland Terrace, Ashwell, at which time 21 year old Harvey was working as a wheelwright.
Harvey was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, in Ashwell. His parents later lived at "The Elms," Ashwell, Baldock, Herts.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in the Army on 7 September 1914 and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving as a Private and Corporal, reg. no. 15990, with the 8th Battalion in France from 30 August 1915. He returned to England in May 1917 and, after a period of training at Trinity College, Oxford, he obtained a commission with the Hampshire Regiment. Following his promotion to 2nd Lieutenant he served in Egypt and Palestine from January 1918, but returned to France the following May and was attached to the 2/4th Battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in action on 26 August 1918. Harvey was killed in action on 12 September at Havrincourt, France. His parents received a telegram on 18 September 1918 stating that Harvey had been killed in action on the 12th.
He was initially buried near where he fell but at the war's end his body was exhumed and is now buried in Hermies Hill British Cemetery, France along with four other soldiers from the 2nd/4th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment who died on the same day.
His name appears in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, the entry reads:
"BRYANT, HARVEY, M.C., 2nd Lieut., 4th (Territorial) Battn. The Hampshire Regt., only son of Wilfred Bryant, of Vina Villa, Ashwell, co. Hertford, by his wife, Martha Jane, daughter of Joseph William Eversden; born Ashwell, 12 March, 1890; educated Merchant Taylor's School there; was a Farmer; joined the Bedfordshire Regt. 7 Sept. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the following Aug.; returned to England in May, 1917, and after a period of training at Trinity College, Oxford, was gazetted 2nd Lieut. The Hampshire Regt. in Oct. 1917; served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Egypt and Palestine from Jan. 1918; proceeded to France the following May, and was killed in action at Havrincourt 12 Sept. 1918. Buried there. His Commanding Officer wrote: "We looked upon him as one of finest officers." He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in action on 26 Aug. 1918."
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £21 and pay owing of £73 17s 2d. No pension records have been found.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk
