Documents

Samuel Harvey VC (17 September 1881 – 22 September 1960) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was 34 years old, Regular (soldier) a Private in the 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 29 September 1915 in the Big Willie Trench near the Hohenzollern Redoubt, France, during a heavy bombing (grenade)attack, more bombs were urgently required and private Harvey volunteered to fetch them. The communication trench was blocked with wounded and reinforcements and he went backwards and forwards across open ground under intense fire and succeeded in bringing up 30 boxes before he was wounded in the head. It was largely owing to his cool bravery in supplying the bombs that the enemy was eventually driven back. Harvey also received the French Legion of Honour (5th Class) and the Cross of St. George (Russia). The attached account of his actions was written by James Price Lloyd of the Welsh Regiment, who served with Military Intelligence. After the war, the government to destroyed all the archives relating to this propaganda (section MI 7b (1)). They were regarded as being too sensitive to risk being made public. Remarkably these documents have survived in the personal records of Captain Lloyd. Many of these papers are officially stamped, and one can trace the development of many individual articles from the notes based on an idea, to the pencil draft which is then followed by the hand-written submission and the typescript. The archive Tales of the VC comprises 94 individual accounts of the heroism that earned the highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross. These are recounted deferentially and economically, yet they still manage to move the reader. Date stamp: 18 May 1918. || Article with annotations.

Private William (Willie) Parkinson was born 30th August 1899 and enlisted into the 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers in 1816. When it was discovered he was underage, he was placed in a training unit, the 6th Reserve Battalion Lancs Fus, until he was of age. At this point he was transferred to front line duties. On the 27th/28th May 1918 there was a massive German offensive that included an attack on the section of the River Aisne where Pte. Parkinson was stationed. He was killed during the attack on the 27th, while defending a stretch of higher ground, near Muscourt on the south side of the river. The battalion was annihilated by the German offensive. Prior to going on active service he sent a letter to his sister, Pollie. In it he mentions the penknife that he was awarded on 12th February 1918 'for cleanest equipment in No. 3 Platoon'. His mother, Ann, made up a memorial package, including family photos, to celebrate Willie after his death. On it she states he was killed at Metz. The memorial silk in the assembly also states he was killed at Metz but the battalion history states it was near Muscourt. Private Parkinson was awarded the Victory medal and the British War Medal. He lies with his comrades at Marfaux British Cemetery. || Framed Victory medal, British War Medal, cap badge, photo in uniform, and bronze memorial plaque. Silk memorial ribbon. Memorial certificate. Memorial package (with inscription by mother) containing three large format family portraits. Letter from Pte Parkinson to his sister Pollie