STEPHEN HARVEY (1888-1921)

GS/15060 Private Stephen Harvey, 2^nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) died 1 February 1921 and is buried at Durham (St. Cuthbert) Churchyard.[1]  He was 32 years old and is commemorated on Cockfield War Memorial.

Family Details

Stephen was born 13 April 1888 at Threlkeld near Keswick, Cumberland [2] the son of George and Emma Harvey.  There were at least 8 children:

• Thomas Charles born 3 June 1881 in Newton, North Wales
• Elizabeth born 27 July 1884 in Newton, North Wales
• Stephen born 13 April 1888 at Threlkeld, Cumberland
• George born 24 September 1891 at Threlkeld, Cumberland
• Mary Ann 1 July 1894 at Threkeld, Cumberland
• Joseph 28 January 1897 at Threkeld, Cumberland
• Emma born January 1899 at Threkeld, Cumberland
• Robert born 9 February 1903 at Threkeld, Cumberland

In 1901, the family lived at Cockermouth, Cumberland.  Stephen’s father 43 year old George was born in Cornwall and worked as a quarryman (granite).  His wife 40 year old Emma was born in Leicestershire.  20 year old Thomas worked as a granite sett maker.  12 year old Stephen was presumably still at school although he is not recorded as a scholar.[3]

Stephen married Mary Ellen Wright at Teesdale, 30 September 1910. [4]  By 1911 21 year old Stephen and Mary Ellen lived at Esperley Lane, Cockfield where he worked as a quarryman (whinstone quarry). [5]   Stephen worked as a coal miner [hewer] and lived at Station House, Gilesgate, Durham.  He died 1 February 1921, the cause of death was recorded as, “1] phthisis 2] cardiac failure” [ie T.B.].[6]

Stephen’s younger brother George Harvey is also commemorated on the Cockfield War Memorial but to date his service record and Commonwealth War Grave have not been traced.

Service Details

GS/15060 Private Stephen Harvey served with the 2^nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) and died 1 February 1921 aged 32 years.  The service details of Private S. Harvey and the War Diary of the 2^nd Dragoons have not been researched thus it remains unknown when and how Private S. Harvey received his wounds which led to his death.

With the outbreak of WW1 an additional General Service number sequence was introduced and recruits’ numbers were prefixed with GS/ whilst career cavalry men continued to use the corps number series. [7]  Private S. Harvey was not a career cavalry man.

The 2^nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) formed part of the 5^th Cavalry Brigade with the following:

• 12^th Lancers
• 20^th Hussars
• E Battery RHA joined 17 September 1914
• 5^th Signal Troop RE
• 5^th Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron MGC formed 26 February 1916

The 5^th Cavalry Brigade together with the 3^rd and 4^th Cavalry Brigades and associated Divisional Artillery, Royal Engineers, RAMC, RAVC and other Divisional Troops formed the 2^nd Cavalry Division 13 September 1914 and remained on the Western Front in France and Flanders throughout the war.  It took part in most of the major actions including the Final Advance in Picardy (17 October – 11 November 1918) including the Battle of the Sambre 4 November and the capture of Mons 11 November 1918.  The Division was selected to advance into Germany as an advance screen for the Fourth Army and form part of the Occupation Force.  The move began 17 November and Cinet and Rochefort were reached 5 days later.  The 5^th Cavalry Brigade crossed the German border south of St. Vith 1 December 1918. [8]

At the beginning of 1919, the Scots Greys was reduced to 7 officers and 126 other ranks.  The Scots Greys returned home to Britain 21 March 1919 via Southampton after almost 5 years of service. [9]

The Division ceased to exist at midnight 31 March/1 April 1919.[10] For the next year, the Scots Greys remained in Britain.  Although tanks had been introduced during WW1, the Scots Greys retained their horses when they were sent on its first peacetime deployment, East of Suez.[11]

Between 17 October 1918 and 31 December 1921, the 2^nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) lost 1 officer and 11 other ranks.  Private S. Harvey is not recorded.  The last casualty to be recorded is Lt. A.H. Forster who died of wounds 10 March 1919.[12]

Burial

GS/15060 Private Stephen Harvey is buried at Durham (St. Cuthbert) Churchyard.[13]

Commemoration

Private S. Harvey is commemorated on the Cockfield War Memorial.

References

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] England & Wales Birth Index 1837-1915 Bootle, Cumberland Vol.10b p.649 1889 Q2 and family details provided by Kevin Wallis courtesy of ancestry.co.uk

[3] 1901 census

[4] England & Wales marriage Index 1837-1915 Teesdale, Durham Vol.10a p.483 1910 Q3 and family details from Kevin Wallis courtesy of ancestry.co.uk

[5] 1911 census

[6] Death certificate dated 3 February 1921

[7] Armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/2^nd-dragoons-royal-scots-greys-html

[8]  http://www.1914-1918.net/2cavdiv.htm

[9]  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Scots_Greys#1918:_St._Quentin.2C_retreat.2C_100_Days

[10]  http://www.1914-1918.net/2cavdiv.htm

[11]  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Scots_Greys#1918:_St._Quentin.2C_retreat.2C_100_Days

[12]  Officers & Soldiers Died in the Great War

[13]  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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