Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Lieutenant Colonel

Army Number : 19636

Unit : 2nd Bn, Depot, 1st Bn, 17 PTC

Biography :

'Dick' Harvey was commissioned into The Leicestershire Regiment on 31.8.1922, and joined 2nd Bn in The Sudan. Promoted Lieutenant 31.8.1924. Serving at the Depot from 1927, during which time he attended 45th Course in Refereeing, judging and Organization of Boxing, Wrestling, Bayonet Fencing, and Sports at the Army School of Physical Training, Aldershot, from 21/2/28 to 5/4/28, and awarded Certificate “Qualified,” dated 5/4/28. Posted to 2nd Bn on 17.7.1929. Attached to Sudan Defence Force (local Capt. 816132) 19.7.1929 to 18.7.1934. Promoted Captain on 28.3.1935 in 2nd Bn at Londonderry as OC D Company. In Feb 1938 he joined A Company 1st Bn in India and was promoted Major on 31.8.1939. As Major served with the 1st Bn and The British Battalion in Malaya in 1941/42. He was captured at Singapore in Feb 1942. Was a prisoner of war at Chungkai Camp in Thailand, and was released on 17.8.1945. On release he set out to find the 1st Leicesters' Colours left at a bank in Penang for safekeeping; he found the King's Colour on a bonfire (and the Colour now hangs in the Regimental Chapel in Leicester Cathedral). He was awarded the D.S.O. for his work as 2IC 1st Leicesters and The British Battalion (L.G. 1.8.1946). In December 1946 he formed 17 Primary Training Centre, Glen Parva Barracks. Retired from the Army and granted Honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 7.9.1947. Ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers on 30.9.1952. Awarded the O.B.E. (Civil) for his work in Northern Ireland as Secretary, Counties of Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association (L.G. 31.5.1956). In County Londonderry he was a JP and a Deputy Lieutenant. High Sheriff of the County of Londonderry 1959-60. He died on 30.9.1995, aged 93 years.
His diary as a POW 1942-45 (a hand-written manuscript in two exercise books) is held by the Record Office for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland [Ref: DE 6007/101]. The original was buried, owing to Japanese searches, and only retrieved and completed after Harvey's liberation on 17.8.1945. The diary (15.2.1942-8.10.1945) records the activities of working parties, weather, food, sickness, and a surprising range of social activities.

This page was last edited on 20.8.2019.

Date of Birth : 30.9.1902

Date of Death : 30.9.1995

Place of Death : Londonderry

Civil Occupation : Public servant

Period of Service : 1922-47

Conflicts : WW2

Places Served : United Kingdom, The Sudan, Londonderry, India, Malaya, Singapore, Thailand