Maiden City Great War Roll of Honour Part 32

Harvey, Captain Edward George (Emon)

Captain Edward George (Emon) Harvey, Duke of Edinburgh’s Wiltshire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps, was killed in action near the Belgian village of Hooge on June 16, 1915, aged 32.

He was the eldest son of James George Morewood and Nora Elizabeth Harvey, Creglorne, Londonderry, and brother of Mr James M. Harvey.

He was in addition grandson of Commander Edward Harvey, RN, Culdaff, County Donegal. Captain Harvey’s name is inscribed on St Columb’s Cathedral (Church of Ireland) Memorial to the men connected with that cathedral who died during the 1914-18 War, and on the famous Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. His name is also commemorated on the Diamond War Memorial.

Educated at Foyle College, Captain Harvey was only eighteen when he enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He served with them in South Africa, and subsequently as a sergeant in India, where he obtained his commission in the Wiltshire Regiment in 1905.

He was, in 1913, seconded for service with the Royal Flying Corps, in which he was, in 1914, promoted flight commander, and subsequently captain in his regiment, to which he returned at the end of that year, and joined its 1st Battalion at the Front in February 1915.

Captain Edward George Harvey was at the head of his company leading an attack on the third line of German trenches on June 16, 1915, when he was mortally wounded.

His name was read out during a memorial service held in St Columb’s (Church of Ireland) Cathedral, Londonderry, on Sunday, August 1, 1915, to commemorate the officers and men of the city of Derry, who had died during the first year of the Great War.

His name was also among a list of Great War dead, associated with Foyle College, Londonderry, read aloud during that College’s annual prize giving ceremony, held on Thursday, December 19, 1918. A brother, William Francis Harvey, served in the Great War with the Canadian forces, but died afterwards at Victoria, British Columbia, on March 25, 1922, aged 28.

Captain Edward George Harvey’s cousin, Major F. H. Harvey, East Yorkshire Regiment and younger son of Colonel Edward Harvey, Royal Engineers, figured in a list of honours included in Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch around January 1917, having been awarded the DSO.

At that time Major Harvey was serving on the Headquarters Staff of the Fifth Army, commanded by General Sir Hubert Gough. He served throughout the Boer War, and took part in the engagements of Colenso and Spion Kop. At the sitting of Lifford Quarter Sessions Court, held on Tuesday, June 22, 1915, his Honour Judge Cooke, KC, said it was only fitting that he should express deep sympathy with Mr J. G. M. Harvey on the death in Flanders of his son, Captain Edward George Harvey, announced in the papers that morning. The deceased officer’s father was constantly represented in that court, and, although resident in the city of Derry, was intimately connected with the county of Donegal as a grand juror.

J. G. M. Harvey, who was the youngest son of Commander Edward Harvey, RN, The Warren, Culdaff, belonged to an old Donegal family. He was a cousin of John Harvey, of Malin Hall, and the family were granted estates and settled in the Malin district about the year 1618. J. G. M. Harvey was directly descended from John Harvey, who was Chamberlain of Derry, and who commanded a company of volunteers during the Siege of 1689.

J. G. M. Harvey founded an estate business in Londonderry, and was one of the leading estate agents in Ulster, managing large numbers of extensive properties in Donegal, Londonderry, and Tyrone. He was actively involved in Unionist politics, taking a prominent part in election campaigns in Londonderry from the time of the candidature of Sir John Ross, Ireland’s last Lord Chancellor. His services, however, were more freely given as an organiser than as a speaker, for he preferred to do his work in a quiet way.

He was a member of the Londonderry Unionist Council, and for over twenty years a member of the Ulster Unionist Council, where his views and advice were greatly valued.

On August 24, 1875, J. G. M. Harvey married Nora Elizabeth Rogan (who died on October 16, 1941, aged 83), a daughter of Dr William Rogan, MD, resident medical superintendent of Londonderry and Donegal Asylum.

He was a devoted member of St Columb’s Cathedral, Londonderry, where he served on the select vestry for many years. He was also for a lengthy period a member of the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Council. He liberally gave to charities, but in an unostentatious manner, so that the public had little knowledge of the extent of his philanthropy.

J. G. M. Harvey, who was the last survivor of a family of three sons and four daughters, died, in his eighty-second year, at his residence, Creglorne, Londonderry, on Sunday, October 14, 1934.

Edwards, Private William Alexander, 9698

William Alexander Edwards, ‘A’ Company, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died at the Dardanelles on June 19, 1915.

Aged 23, he was the eldest son of Harbour Constable William Henry (Harry) – who died on February 10, 1918 – and Catherine Edwards, 40, Bond’s Street, Waterside, Londonderry.

He was in addition the brother and brother-in-law of Georgina and William Dickson, 106, Hawthorne Street, Glasgow, and the brother and brother-in-law of Lillian and Robert McCartney, 31, King Street, Londonderry.

Possibly a member of Clooney Hall Methodist Church, Private Edwards’ remains are interred in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Turkey, and his name is commemorated on the Diamond War Memorial.

Private Edwards was called home from India – where he had seen three years’ service – early in 1915, and was home on short leave before going to the Dardanelles on March 16, 1915. Gunner H. J. Edwards, R.G.A., a brother of Private Edwards, was wounded and gassed, in 1918, and spent time in hospital in England recovering.

Buchanan, 2nd Lieutenant Richard Brendan