Private John Harvey (1881-1917)

Service No: 19656 – Coldstream Guards 5^th Reserve Battalion

John Harvey was born on 16th February 1881 and baptised at Castle Bromwich on 3rd April 1881. John was the fifth child and eldest son of the eight children, three sons, five daughters, of parents Walter Harvey and Hannah Wilkinson, who had married at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Aston in 1872. All the children were born in Castle Bromwich, which was also their mother’s place of birth. By 1901, aged 20, he had become a carter on a farm. In 1911, still living at the family home in Castle Bromwich, he was working as a railway labourer.

His service record appears not to have survived, so we don’t know when he enlisted. He doesn’t appear to have been entitled to any medals, suggesting that he didn’t serve overseas. Indeed, throughout the war the Coldstream Guards 5^th Reserve Battalion was stationed at Victoria Barracks, Windsor since its primary role was to provide replacements for troops on the Western Front. The Battalion continued to train and make preparation for war whilst carrying out ceremonial duties at Windsor Castle.

35-year-old Private John Harvey died at home in Alpha Cottage, New Street of epilepsy on 6th January 1917 whilst serving with the Reserve Battalion, Coldstream Guards. He is buried in the graveyard by St Mary and St Margaret Church and is commemorated on the Castle Bromwich War Memorial.