William Harvey
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William married Mary Masding (b. 16 or 17 August 1890) in 1915 (J/F/M Nottingham) and they had a son William (b. 20 December 1915). The family lived at 76 Randall Street, Nottingham. Following William's death his widow Mary was awarded a pension of 20 shillings and 5 pence a week first payable on 5 May 1919. Mary Harvey married Harry Hudson in 1926 and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living on Dulverton Vale, Nottingham. Her son William was living with them. Mary died in 1977 and her son William in January 2004.
Lance Corporal William Harvey enlisted in Nottingham, residence Hyson Green. William was killed in action on 9th October 1918 and is buried in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France (grave ref. VI. B. 23). The plot in which William is buried and the history of the cemetery (see below) suggests that William was buried elsewhere and reinterred in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension after the Armistice. CWGC - Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension (extract): 'Busigny was captured by the 30th American Division and British cavalry on 9 October 1918, in the Battle of Cambrai, and in the course of the next two months the 48th, 37th and 12th Casualty Clearing Stations came successively to the village. The majority of the burials were made from these three hospitals. The cemetery extension was begun in October 1918, and used until February 1919. After the Armistice it was enlarged when graves were brought into Plots II-VII of graves from a wide area between Cambrai and Guise [listed].'
'In memoriam' notices published 9th October 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HARVEY. – In loving memory of my dear husband, killed October 9th, 1918. Ever in our thoughts. – Loving wife and son and Mr. and Mrs. Stainfield. “HARVEY. – In loving memory of my dear brother, Lce.-Cpl. William Harvey, killed in action October 9th, 1918. Not dead to those who loved him. – Sadly missed by brother Ernest. “HARVEY. – In loving memory of our dear brother, Lce.-Corpl. William Harvey, killed in action October 9th, 1918, 11th Sherwoods. We that loved him sadly miss him as it dawns another year, in our lonely hours of thinking thoughts of him are always near. – Sadly missed by sister Sally and brother-in-law Jim (in India) & family. “HARVEY. – In loving memory of Lce.-Cpl. William, 11th Sherwoods, killed in action October 9th, 1918. Not forgotten. – Jack, Annie.” Above notices are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Mary was his legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: widow Mary Harvey b. 17 August 1890 and son William b. 20 December 1915. However, the 1939 Register and registration of death give Mary's date of birth as 16 August 1890.
