Name
Harold Robert Overy
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
30820
East Surrey Regiment
12th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Harold Overy was born on 16th May 1895 at Old Windsor. He was one of seven children (two sons and five children) born to Robert and Mary Overy. In 1891 the family lived at Abbots Langley and Robert was employed as a School-Master at the Asylum. It is not known if the family moved away from the area as Harold was born at Old Windsor in 1895, however on 20th October 1895 he was baptised at Leavesden, and all of the other Overy children born between 1897 and 1909 were born at Abbots Langley. In the 1901 Census the family was registered living in Abbots Road, Abbots Langley, and Robert worked as a Rate and Tax Collector. By the time of the 1911 Census the Overy’s lived at Linden Villas, Abbots Road, and Harold worked as a Stock Broker’s Clerk. In the 1912 Kelly’s Directory Robert was listed as Clerk to the Parish Council and the Registrar of Births.
When war broke out Harold attested to the Surrey Yeomanry at Clapham on 23rd November 1914, and undertook a Medical, where it was declared that he was of “Good Physical Development”. Harold was recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour for the first time in December 1914, serving with the Surrey Yeomanry. He joined up with the Surrey Yeomanry on 21st July 1915 and was sent to France on 23rd September 1915. On 12th October 1916 he was posted to the 12th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment.
On 10th April 1917 Harold received multiple wounds, and was sent back to England on 19th April. The Parish Magazine recorded that it was reported that Harold Overy had been wounded in its May 1917 edition. He was admitted to the Military Hospital at Endell Street in London and on 26th July 1917 was discharged to Abbots Langley as being “No longer physically fit for War Service”. The Parish Magazine recorded that Harold had been “Discharged Disabled” in August 1917.
On 31st August 1917 Harold received a War Badge and Certificate. The badge was worn on the right breast or on the right lapel of a jacket and signified that a man had been discharged disabled.
Harold Overy survived the War, as did his brother Wilfrid who also served.
Additional Information
Formerly Surrey Yeomanry.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
