Rank and Unit at End of World War Two
Rank Major
Service Number 129751
Service Army
Battalion 154 Field Regiment
Regiment Royal Artillery
Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
- Listed on an illustrated list of Linton Parishoners who served
- Address in 1939 or 1945/46: Halstock, Linton
(taken from either the 1939 National Registration
or the 1945 and/or 1946 service electoral rolls)
Biography
Family background
Anthony Bedford Harvie was born in Harrow, Middlesex, on the 22nd November 1916 the son of Arthur Leonard Harvie and his wife, Maude Harriet. When Anthony was just
two years old, his father was killed in action in the First World War on the 18th September 1918 while serving with the 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment.
By the date of the 1921 census, Anthony was living with his widowed mother, Maude, at Shurnhold Farm House, Melksham in Wiltshire. Maude and Anthony were joined
in the household by Maude's brother and sister, Clarence Bedford Howell and Constance Howell, and a young boy, Patrick Roderick Hughes, aged 6, who was a visitor.
We don't know where Anthony was educated, but he was clearly an able student and in 1936 to 1938 we find records of him taking and passing law examinations. His address
at the time was Trelawny, The Parks, Minehead in Somerset. After passing his examination, Anthony went to practice as a solicitor, and on the 1939 National
Registration he was listed at The Grange, Ridgeway, Plympton as a solicitor working for Plympton Rural District Council.
Service record
We do not know when Anthony Harvie joined the army, but he is listed on the 1945 Service List of the West Yorkshire Electoral Rolls registered at Halstock, Linton
while he was serving. Before 1945, Anthony married in 1941 to Winifred J Treliving of Linton.
Anthony served in the Royal Artillery with a service number 129751. He gained promotions ending the war as a Temporary Major in the Royal Artillery. On the
28th June 1945, the London Gazette published the fact that Anthony Bedford Harvie had been awarded The Military Cross for his services with 154 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
in Italy. The citation for the award gives details of his actions:
Major A.B. HARVIE, R.A. has commanded Q.Bty, 154th (LY) [Leicester Yeomanry] Field Regiment, R.A. the
whole time it has been in action in this theatre. At all times and under all conditions
he has shown himself extremely courageous, capable and reliable. He has always
inspired, whatever Infantry he has supported with well found confidence. His particularly
fine achievements against every type of difficulty in the operations leading
up to the capture of MONTE CADRUZZO 591949 in October, 1944 are briefly given below.
On 6th October, he was ordered at short notice to support 4/10 BALUCH [part of the Indian Army]
in the area
STRIGARA 609909 for their attack that night on MONTE CAMPO 6093 and MONTE
CADRUZZO. Only the primary objectives were taken and on the 7th October, the Bn came
in for some very heavy shelling and no further progress was made. On the 8th October
the 2/8 GR [Gurkha Regiment] of 43 IND LORRIED INF BDE arrived to take over part of the
STRIGARA area. They were without any R.A. representative and all arrangements
for their D.Fs etc had to be made by Major HARVIE. Heavy shelling continued throughout
9th October forcing the 4/10 BALUCH Tac to move after a number of casualties had been
sustained. 2/8 GR, who were still without their own Gunners, had to make a
diversionary attack on the night of 9/10th October. A fire plan was made for
them by Major HARVIE with such weapons as he could muster - namely a
Mountain Bty and some 4.2" mortars. On night 10/11th October, 4/10 BALUCH attacked
MONTE CAMPO and 2/6 GR of 43 Bde (who had now also arrived)), MONTE CADRUZZO. Although
under different Bdes Major HARVIE was ordered to support both Bns and made a fire
plan for them, using two Field Regts. He left an O.P. with 4/10 BALUCH and went
himself with 2/6 GR. This attack was successful. At 1635 hrs on 11th October, Major
HARVIE was ordered to support an attack by 2/10 GR, as B.C. and O.Ps from 1st
Field Regiment had been delayed. All this time the only means of communication from 10 Bde
to 4/10 BALUCH and from 43 Bde to 2/10 GR was by Major HARVIE's Battery line.
Daylight was short and the situation was further complicated by Major Harvie
having to use a Field Regiment other than his own for both registration
and fire plan, but this was successfully concluded. The B.C. from 1st field
Regiment arrived during the night, but no O.Ps or equipment until the following afternoon when
Major HARVIE handed over with 2/10 GR just short of their final objective.
The capture of these objectives by the Infantry has been justly praised, but
they could not have secured them without adequate artillery support. The
provision of this support was the work of Major HARVIE, whose determination and quick
and clear thinking overcame numerous physical and technical difficulties
and enabled an extremely complicated situation to pass smoothly and successfully.
The National Archives WO373/12/100
After the war
After the war, Anthony Bedford Harvie returned to the UK and settled near Herne Bay in Kent, being listed there on the electoral rolls in 1946, 1947 and 1948. He died
in the Canterbury area in 1992.
Biography last updated 22 January 2024 16:00:19.
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