Douglas Preston Harvey

Douglas joined the army shortly after the outbreak of the war and joined the University and Public Schools Battalion, and went to France with them in November 1915. He was later commissioned in the Machine Gun Corps and went out to France again in February 1917. He was badly wounded in his leg on 27th April 1917 during an attack for which he received a Military Cross. The citation reads "for great gallantry and devotion to duty whilst in charge of two guns, when he showed determination in getting his guns into position under extremely heavy shell fire. Although wounded, he refused to leave his post, and continued to command his guns with the greatest coolness and ability for eighteen hours after being hit. His fine example had the greatest possible effect on all the troops in his vicinity, and on previous occasions this officer had shown great courage and resource." On leaving hospital he rejoined at Grantham and was recommended for second-in-command of a company. He went out to France again at six hours' notice and had been attached to the West Lancashire Division exactly a week when he was killed instantaneously by an enemy sniper whilst taking his guns into an attack on 20th November 1917. His body was never recovered or identified and his name is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial Louverval Nord France.

The following is an extract from 'The Cuthbertian' January 1920 issued no 1:Extract from the "Court Journal.".-Second Lieutenant Douglas Preston Harvey, M.C., M.G.C., who was killed in action on November 20th, 1917, aged 29, was the second son of the late A.]. Harvey, Esq., of Worksop, and Mrs. Harvey, Southport, and was educated at Worksop College and Manchester University.He was in business with Messrs. George Hadfield & Co., Ltd., chemical manure manufacturers, of Liverpool, of which firm his uncle, Mr. Herbert Horton, is a senior partner.Soon after the outbreak of war he joined the Army as a private in the University and Public Schools Battalion, and went to France with them in November, 1915,afterwards receiving his commission in the Machine Gun Corps. He again went to France in February, 1917, and was badly wounded in the leg on April 27th during an attack, when he was awarded the Military Cross for "great gallantry and devotion to duty whilst in charge of two guns, when he showed determination in getting his guns into position under extremely heavy shell fire. Although wounded, he refused to leave his post, and continued to command his guns with the greatest coolness and ability for eighteen hours after being hit. His fine example had the greatest possible effect on all the troops in his vicinity, and on previous occasions this officer had shown great courage and resource." On leaving hospital he rejoined at Grantham, and at the end of October was given a week's leave and recommended for second-in-command of a company. He went out to France again at six hours' notice, and had been attached to the West Lanes. Division exactly a week when he met his death. He was killed instantaneously by an enemy sniper whilst taking his guns into an attack on November 2oth. His C.O. writes: "Your husband had only joined this company a few days prior to his death, but he had become a great favourite with all officers and men, and I had a very high opinion of his great qualities as a soldier. Please accept, on behalf of myself and officers and men of this company, our sincere and deep regret on your sad loss of a gallant and ever courteous officer." Second Lieutenant Harvey married, in September, 1915, Dorothy, only child of Mr. and Mrs. S. Ward Taplin, of Leyland Road, Southport, who survives him.