Wickham Leathes Harvey was killed in action on this day in 1915
Wickham Leathes Harvey was born in Twickenham on 8 Jan 1888, the son of Arthur and mother Emily (née Stanger-Leathes from New South Wales, Australia) of Hoon-Hay, the Drive, Belmont Surrey.
At the 1901 Census, age 13, Wickham lived at home in Bromley with his parents, three siblings, two aunts and three domestic servants.
He went to school at Quernmore, Bromley, Kent and then joined the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Indian Army on 9 Sept 1908 and attached to the 1st South Wales Borderers for his first year before joining them at Quetta, 9 November 1908. He was posted to the 7th DCO Rajputs at Dinapore on 7 November 1909 and promoted Lieut. on 9 Dec. 1910.
At the outbreak of war, he went to Mesopotamia and took part in the fighting before, and in the occupation of, Basra at the Battle of Kurna where he was wounded.
He was killed in action near Ahwz, Persia on 3 March 1915. The Battalion War Diary gives an account of the action that day. The British force advanced overnight with the intention of firing on the enemy camp at daybreak. The shelling began at 6.00am and initially caused confusion in the camp. However, the enemy advanced in numbers to the left and right, threatening to turn the British flanks.
Due to a confusion of orders, both the left and right flanks began to retire simultaneously, leaving the centre exposed and in danger of encirclement. They had no choice but to retire too.
"The consequence was that nearly the whole of the 7th Rajputs was retiring at the same time. The retirement was not covered at all by other troops and the consequence was that the enemy was enabled to close in on the rear troops with impunity. The number of wounded grew rapidly.
It became necessary for the rearmost troops of all to constantly hold and check the enemy in order to prevent the whole regiment being surrounded. In one of these heroic attempts to save the situation, a party was surrounded and all killed. This party included the following officers:- Captain WA Gover, Lieutenant WL Harvey, Lieutenant DB Burgogne-Wallace and Subadar Mahesh Singh."
Wickham's Colonel wrote to his parents:
"I brought to the notice of the General Officer Commanding the plucky way he handled the machine-guns under a hot fire. The regiment has lost a keen, zealous and promising young officer. Personally, he was a great favourite of mine and he showed great ability in the Gulf three years ago when acting as Quartermaster".
He was mentioned in Despatches twice in 1915 for his "conspicuous bravery and coolness" and his "gallant and distinguished service in the field".
Lieutenant Harvey is commemorated on the Tehran Memorial.
Lieut. Wickham Leathes Harvey, 7th Duke of Connaught’s Own Rajputs, Indian Army