This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Harvey, Frederick Maurice Watson VC MC Croix de Guerre played for Ireland Internationals: 2 : 1907 W- ; 1911 F+ was born on 1 September 1888 in Athboy, Ireland. He played as a Fly-half/full back for: Portora Grammar School, Ellesmere College, Wanderers Profession: Rancher/The Army Remarks: Fred Harvey was first selected for Ireland v Wales at Cardiff while still at school, and was noted as being one of the best of an Irish side that was thoroughly outclassed. He emigrated to Canada before the outbreak of War, but returned to Ireland in 1911, and was selected to play at Fullback v France. He did not have a good match (won by Ireland 25-5), but it was acknowledged that he was new to the position. He returned to Canada, where he married Winifred Patterson in Fort McLeod. War service: Harvey enlisted in the 23rd Alberta Rangers (Militia) Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1915, and was commissioned the next year, after which he transferred to Lord Strathcona’s Horse [Canadian Expeditionary Force]. Lt Harvey was passed fit for overseas service on 18 May 1916. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for an action on 27 March 1917 at Saulcourt-Guyencourt, France: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During an attack by his regiment on a village, a party of the enemy ran forward to a wired trench just in front of the village and opened rapid fire and machine gun fire at very close range, causing heavy casualties in the leading troop. At this critical moment when the enemy showed no intention of retiring and fire was still intense, Lieutenant Harvey, who was in command of the leading troop, ran forward well ahead of his men and dashed at the trench, still fully manned, jumped the [triple] wire, shot the machine gunner and captured the gun. His most courageous act undoubtedly had a decisive effect on the success of the operation. Gazette dated 8 June 1917. Lt Harvey was also involved in an action that saw the award of a posthumous VC to Captain Gordon Flowerdew of “C” Squadron, Lord Strathcona’s Horse, on 30 March 1918. At Bois de Moreuil in France, during the major German advance, the Horse was in the path of about 300 of German infantry, supported by machine guns. Capt Flowerdew ordered Lt Harvey’s troop to dismount and ‘carry out a special movement’ while Capt Flowerdew led three troops in a charge, which broke the enemy advance. He then established a defensive position where he was joined by Lt Harvey and his men. Capt Flowerdew died of wounds the next day and is buried in Namps-au-Val British Cemetry [I. H. 1.]. Lt Harvey was awarded the MC for this action, the citation appeared in the Gazette of 22 June 1918: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In the attack, by his fearless leading he overcame the resistance of the enemy, although the latter were in greatly superior numbers. He engaged many of the enemy single-handed, and, although wounded and suffering from a considerable loss of blood, continued to fight his way forward until he affected a junction with another mounted party, thus contributing in a great degree to the success of the attack. He commanded his men with magnificent gallantry, skill, and determination.” His Croix de Guerre was Gazetted on 10 October 1918. After the War, Harvey remained in the Canadian Army, eventually achieving the rank of Brigadier during the 1939-1945 War, when he was the District Officer Commanding for Alberta. Fred Harvey was one of three Wanderers players to be awarded the VC, the others being Tommy Crean and Robert Johnston, who were awarded their medals during the 1899-1902 South African War. He died on 21 August 1980, in the Colonel Belcher Hospital in Calgary, and is buried in Union Cemetery, Fort McLeod, Alberta, Canada. His Victoria Cross is displayed in the Museum of the Regiments, Calgary.
Brigadier Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey, VC, MC. Born: Athboy, Co Meath, Sept 1, 1888. Died: Calgary, Alberta, Aug 24, 1980. Educated at Portora Royal High School and Ellesmere College, Harvey played for Ireland against Wales in 1907 and France four years later, before concentrating on a military career. He was 28 and a lieutenant in Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), Canadian Army, during the First World War when he was awarded the Victoria Cross for an action that was both athletic and courageous. On March 27, 1917, at Guyencourt, France, during an attack by the regiment, the leading troop, commanded by Lieutenant Harvey, had suffered heavy casualties from rapid fire at close range. He was riding in front of his men when he came upon a wired trench containing a machine gun and a strong garrison. He at once swung from his saddle and ran straight for the trench, jumped the wire, shot the gunner and captured the gun.
