HARVEY, JOHN ROBERT, Lieutenant
Colonel, was born 31 July 1861, eldest son of Colonel John Edmund Harvey,
41st Regiment, of Springfield, Taplow, Bucks, and Thorpe, Norfolk, and
Octavia Lettice, daughter of the Reverend R Stephens. He was educated at
Rugby and at Trinity College, Cambridge, and served in the East Norfolk
Militia, 16th Lancers and 5th Lancers; joined the 43rd Suffolk Hussars, as
Captain, 15 November 1899. He commanded the Suffolk Hussars and the 25th
Battalion Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, and served also as Staff
Officer for Prisoners of War (graded as Staff Captain), Lines of
Communication, from 1900 to 1902. He took part in the operations in the
Orange Free State, February to May 1900; in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria,
July to 29 November 1900; in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900;
in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1900; in the Transvaal, February to
31 May 1902; also during the operations in Cape Colony, December 1901 to
February 1902 (Despatches [London Gazette, 17 June, 1902]; Queen's Medal
with three clasps, and King's Medal with two clasps). He was created a
Companion of the Distingm'shed Service Order [London Gazette, 26 June,
1902]: "John Robert Harvey, Lieutenant Colonel, Imperial Yeomanry. In
recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The
Insignia were presented by the King 24 October 1902. He subsequently
retired from the King's Own Norfolk Imperial Yeomanry. He was a Justice of
the Peace and was Mayor of Norwich in 1902-3. In the European War he served
with the 4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment in Gallipoli in 1915; became Brevet
Colonel, 4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. He wrote 'Records of the
Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, 1782 to 1908', 'Hunting in Norfolk' and 'Shannon
and its Lakes'. He was fond of hunting, polo, shooting, fishing and
yachting. He married, firstly, in 1888, Nora (died, 1889), second daughter
of H Adams, of Canon Hill, Bray; secondly, in 1890, Florence, daughter of F
W Parsons, of Risley Hall, Derby, and had one son and two daughters.
DSO, QSA (3) CC
OFS Trans (Capt), KSA (2) (Lt Col 43rd Coy IY), 1914-15 Star (Lt
Col, BWM, Victory Medal (Bt Col 4/Norfolk Regt). 1911 Coronation,
Territorial Decoration GV.
Spinks 1963 £35.
Lovell 1978 est £450.
